1 




Class. 
Book. 



REMINISCENCES 



k 

\ OF A 



K CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO; 



,t BY A 



MEMBER OF "THE BLOODY-FIRST." 

/ 



PRECEDED BY A SHORT SKETCH OF THE HISTORY ANTJ- 
CONDITION OF MEXICO FROM HER REVO- 
LUTION DOWN TO THE WAR WITH 
THE UNITED STATES. 



NASHVILLE: 
JOHN YORK & CO., PUBLISHERS, 

PRINTED AT THB UNION OFFICE. 
' 1849. 



^^•4311 






DEDICATION, 



To THE Privates of the First Regiment of 
Tennessee Volunteers this work is respectfully 
dedicated by one who has shared their toils and 
dangers, and who knows full well how the offi- 
cers in every army swallow up the praise which 
is justly due to the private soldier. 



PREFACE 



When the author of the followin^g pages commenced the pub- 
lication of his "Reminiscences" in the Nashville Union, he 
expected to complete his undertaking in a very few numbers, 
which would never go beyond the columns of the newspapers. 
The only objects which he had in view in writing, were to improve 
himself, and at the same time, to place before the country the real 
merits of the Regiment of Volunteers of which he had been a 
member. He was induced, however, by the flattering commen- 
dations bestowed on his first numbers, accompanied by the urgent 
solicitations of many of his companions in arms, to extend his 
original design, and enter into a full history of the operations of 
"the Bloody First" in Mexico. Before these numbers were 
concluded, he received numerous applications from esteemed 
friends, to collect and republish, in a form more convenient for 
preservation, the Avhole series. In compliance with these appli- 
cations the following pages are submitted to the public. 

In detailing the histor\ of the campaign in which-kis Regiment 
was engaged, he has endeavored to be strictly impartial, and he 
indulges the hope that in his narrations he has done injustice to 
none. If he has failed in this, it has resulted from his inabil- 
ity to procure all the facts in each transaction which he haa 
detailed. He has, as yet, heard of no complaint on this score, 
and, therefore, he trusts that his sketches will be entitled to the 
merit of impartiality. 

Since the appearance of the original sketches in the Nashville 
Union, the author has carefully revised th^m ; and, by way of 
adding to their interest, has prefixed to them a few introductory 
chapters upon the history and condition of Mexico, from the 
Revolution to the War with the United States. In the preparation 
of the introductory chapters, he has availed himself of the excel- 
lent works of Mr. Ward, Mr. Thompson and Mr. Fayette Robin- 
Bon,to whom he acknowledges his indebtedness for much rclinblo 

information. 

J. B. ROBERTSON, 



INTRODUCTION^ 



CHAPTER I. 
Primary causes of the Revolution in Mexico. 

The overthrow of the Spanish Bourbons in 
1808, with the subsequent imprisonment of Fer- 
dinand VII, and the attempt of Napoleon to es- 
tablish his brother Joseph Bonaparte upon the 
Spanish throne, produced throughout all the Span- 
ish dependencies in America a feeling of conster- 
nation and alarm. The Captain General of Cuba 
immediately declared his determination to op- 
pose the estabhshment of the Bonaparte dynasty; 
and in rapid succession the other Vicegerents 
and Audicncias throughout Spanish America 
determined to pursue the same pohcy , and to sus- 
tain the fortunets of Ferdinand. The people of 
Spain, though unsustained by the nobles, who 
had passively submitted to their new masters, 
arose, with that unanimity which always insures 
popular success, and avowed their determination 
to oppose to the last the usurpation of King 
Joseph. In vain Napoleon hurled his armies 
into the peninsula, to reduce them to submission. 
What could the tactics of a Marmont, or the valor 
of a Victor, avail in opposition to the moral reso- 
lution of a whole people determined not to be 
conquered ? With that spirit of obstinacy, which 
is the predominant trait in the Spanish character, 
they rejected every decree of King Joseph; and 
cabals were formed, in every portion of the king- 



8 rvTRODUCTIOX. 

dom, in order to gixe more efficient direction to 
their inflexible spirit of opposition. 

When the effects of the guerrilla system had 
begun gradually to fritter away* the legions of 
Bonaparte, a grand central Junta was established 
at Seville for the ministration of affairs, and to 
protect the interests of Ferdinand. This Junta 
assumed all the de facto powers of a sovereign, 
and dictated its orders to the Viceroys and Ayun- 
tamientos in America. This assumption of regal 
powers, on the part of the Junta, produced a 
powerful revulsion in some of the American 
dependencies. Iturrigaray, the Viceroy of Mexico, 
having called together the Ayuntamiento or 
National Assembly, demanded its acquiescence in 
the authority of the Central Junta of Spain. The 
Ayuntamiento at this time, fortunately, consisted 
of a majority of Creoles or American born 
Spaniards, and it rejected with indignation the 
domination of the Junta. The seeds of thought 
and reflection had already been sown, and were 
rapidly ripening into a rich harvest of disaffection. 
The rule which had long been proclaimed and 
acted out, that " while one man lived in Spain, 
he had a right to the obedience of every Ameri- 
can," began now to loose its force; and the Creoles 
of the Ayuntamiento, though long accustomed to 
yield implicit and unmurmuring submission to the 
will of the Spanish sovereign, as a duty which 
they imagined themselves morally bound to per- 
form, yet, when the power and authority of that 
sovereign had ceased, they began rightly to judge 
that this obviated their obligation of obedience. 
The iVyuntamiento began, at length, to discrimi- 
nate between the Spanish crown and the Spanish 
people ; their duty to the one was based upon 
the relation of subject to sovereign ; their submis- 



LNTRODUCTIOK . 9 

sion to the other had hitherto rested upon asserted 
superiority, and a supposed inherent right to rule. 
Mexico had always been considered as a distinct, 
though adjunct kingdom of the Spanish empire ; 
and though her people were willing to lend obse- 
quious submission to the ayIII of the Spanish 
crown, yet they could not discover what moral 
obligation bound them to obey the decrees of any 
body of Spanish people, v^ho choose to usurp the 
the powers of royalty. They conceived that, as 
their obedience was only due to King Ferdinand, 
his overthrow/ and imprisonment had sundered, 
for the time, all their ties to the Spanish people. 
Consequentl}^ the council spurned the dictation 
of the Spanish Junta, and proposed to Iturrigaray 
to establish a Federal Junta in Mexico, in order 
to sustain the interests of the royal family, as 
well as those of Mexico. The A^iceroy, finding 
them resolute in their determination, at length 
agreed to the proposition of the Ayuntamiento ; 
but the Audiencia, or council of chief justices — 
composed entirely of Spaniards, and established 
by the Spanish sovereign in all his viceroy al ties, 
as a check upon the power of Viceroy — finding 
that Iturrigaray was yielding to the terms of the 
national council, they immediately interposed 
their power; and having deposed and arrested 
Iturrigaray, confided his authority, for the time, to 
the Archbishop of Lizana. 

After this act, the Audiencia succeeded, by 
some unaccountable means, in overawing the 
the Ayuntamiento, and compelling it to submit 
to the decrees of the Central Junta. Things contin- 
ued in this posture, until the French, having forced 
the Junta to fly from Seville to Cadiz, pressed it so 
hard, that, having appointed a regency of five to 
administer the affairs, it resigned its powers, and 
1* 



10 INTRODUCTION. 

resumed them no more. The regency imme- 
diately proclaimed a decree, calling upon all the 
Spanish provinces to elect and send representa- 
tives to the great Cortes which was to assemble 
in February, 1810. In this decree they announced 
to the people of the provinces, that " they were 
raised to the dignity of freemen, and that their 
lot no longer depended on the will of kings, vice- 
roys or governors, but would be determined by 
themselves." This was the first recognition of 
their freedom that had ever come from their 
haught}^ masters, and it seemed to unfetter the 
minds of the Mexican people ; it aroused them 
from that mental lethargy, in which they had so 
long been slumbering ; it awakened a spirit of 
investigation, and they began to examine into 
their real situation ; and this spirit, when perse- 
vered in, is the first step to elevation in an 
enslaved nation; for a nation needs only to be 
made fully acquainted with its rights and its 
wrongs, and the innate principles of humanity 
drive them to claim the one, and devise means to 
remedy the other. 

For nearly three centuries the Mexicans had 
been bowed by a m_ost grinding system of servi- 
tude ; for with their political independence they 
seemed to loose their independence of thought ; 
and mind, soul and body became enslaved. — 
Moral turpitude must necessarily ensue mental 
degradation ; hence the Mexicans became mere 
animals, whose minds were ojily occupied with 
devising means to gratify the appetites of the 
body; and absorbed in this, they never ventured 
or aspired to the contemplation of their social 
or political condition. The Spaniards and the 
Spanish kings seem to have thought that the 
Mexicans were only made for their use, and in 



tNTROt»UCtlO^. il 

order to make them more fit for their purposes, 
they consigned them to the profoundest ignorance 
of every thing beyond the animal gratifications. 
The ministers of this task were the priests. — > 
Cathohcism, in its best form, has never been 
favorable to the advancement of human know- 
ledge ; its policy is to keep the minds of its 
votaries shrouded in the deepest ignorance ; and 
no where has this policy been more effectual than 
in Mexico ; it here aimed at almost a total eradi- 
cation of thought, and it had well nigh succeeded. 
The priests have thus been the most effectual 
auxiliaries in bringing about that loathsome 
servitude, which has so long oppressed this 
unhappy country. Ignorance is the parent of 
slavery, and the Spanish rulers were well aware 
of this fact ; hence their sedulous endeavors to 
obstruct every attempt at enlightenment in 
Mexico ; and for centuries they pursued, with 
the most unabating rigor, their iron annihilative 
policy ; an annihilation that embraced not only 
the mind, but the body ; for, notwithstanding the 
astonishing ferocity of the Mexicans, the Abbe 
Clavigeso, himself a Mexican, states that at the 
beginning of the present century, Mexico con- 
tained not one tenth part of the population that 
it did at the time of the conquest of Cortes. 
There were more than nine millions of people 
assembled in the city of Mexico alone, a short 
time before the conquest, to witness the dedica- 
tion of the great temple, a number equal to the 
whole of tht; present popul-ation. Thus, from 
oppression alone, the Mexicans present the single 
instance in the history of the world of a prolific 
nation, existing as a nation, upon its own soil, 
for three hundred years, and Avithout migration, 
destructive wars, pestilences or famines graduaHy 



12 ES'TRODUCTION. 

decreasing to a tittle of their former populatiori . 
But, as aprofoiind historian remarks, "there is an 
ultimate point of depression, as well as of exulta- 
tion, from which human affairs natui'ally return in 
a contrary progress, and beyond which they never 
pass, either in their advancement or decline." 
This Ultimate point, IMexico seems to have reached 
at the time of the revolution ; they had sunk so 
low in the scale of depravity and degradation, 
that further depression was impossible; and an 
attempt at elevation became the only means of 
securing a farther existence. They had been 
steeped so long in the dye of darkness and 
ignorance, that the gloom itself had become 
Intolerable, and was about to produce a reaction. 
At this ju.nctm*e, Don Francisco Xavier Yanegas 
was appointed Viceroy of Mexico, a man of 
excitable and vindictive temperament, who was 
utterly opposed to a pacific or temporizing policy, 
but was ready to carry to the most rigorous extent 
the wishes of the Audiencia. It was unfortunate 
that such a man should have assumed the direc- 
tion of affairs, at this juncture, as he hastened 
events to an issue before the legitimate period 
had arrived. And it is not unfrequently the case, 
that premature haste is more fatal to a cause than 
delay. The flame of discontent had begun slowly 
to kindle in Mexico, and the odious and tyrannical 
exercise of power by Yanegas caused it to make itf§ 
appearance, here and there, in slight eruptions ; 
but the stern Yiceroy was ever on the watch, and 
succeeded in suppressing every attempt at revo- 
lution ; and in Slay, 1810, when a formidable 
outbreak was brewing at Yalladolid, the leaders 
were arrested and executed without mercy. — 
These were but the premonitory drops of the 
storm that was about to burst upon the country. 



iJJTROiJUCtlO!^, 15 



CHAPTER ii. 

Hidalgo, and the cause of his Insurrection— Commencement of 
the Revolution — Operations of Hidalgo — His capture and 
execution— "Don Ignacio Lopez Rayon — The Junta of Ziti- 
cuaro — Mina's expedition — Guadalupe Victoria. 

As a mouse may sometimes put in motion the 
avalanche, which buries whole cities in its course, 
BO it frequently occurs that the mightiest political 
convulsions date their beginning from the most 
trivial events. The revolution that severed 
Mexico from the Spanish crown owes its immediate 
origin to the simple burning of a small vineyard. 

It was a settled rule in the selfish policy of 
Spain, to foster only those arts and employments 
among the Mexicans which would redound to her 
own interest, emd sedulously to prohibit every 
employment or manufacture that, in the slightest 
measure, came in competition with the arts and 
products of the parent country. With this view, 
therefore, it had long been an established law 
that the cultivation of vineyards and the manu- 
facture of wine vv^ere prohibited in Mexico, except 
in a very small section of country, which was too 
remote, from market ever to affect the interests 
of Spain. In the small and sequestered town 
of Dolores, in the department of Guanajuato, 
there lived an humble padre or parish priest 
named Miguel Hidalgo, he had spent much of 
his life in study, and being a true friend to the 
interests of his country, he had endeavored to 
introduce several useful and profitable arts 
among his parishoners. He had persuaded them 



14 tNtHODUCTION. 

to the culture of the silk-worm; and, as a recrea- 
tion in his own hours of leisure, h^e had planted 
and nursed a small vineyard near his humble 
house. Thus endeavoring, by his influence and 
example, to encourage two branches of industry 
which the peculiar soil and climate of Mexico 
must one day make important items in her 
domestic economy. In an evil hour, the Audi- 
encia issued orders to the quiet curate to cut 
down his humble vineyard ; he hesitated, and at 
length disobeyed the order of the justiciary. — 
A party of soldiere were sent to enforce the 
order, and the powerless padre was compelled 
to witness the demolition of his vines, and to see 
them burned before his eyes ; and that which had 
cost him months of care, labor -and watching, 
was consumed in an hour. Hidalgo was a man 
of keen sensibilities, and this act of injustice 
and tyranny, awakened him to a full s^nse of 
the wrongs and oppression of hims^elf and his 
countrymen, and it excited in him a deep thirst 
for revenge. Being long accustomed to laborious 
thought, he set himself to work to discover the 
most effectual means of gratifying his revenge 
ton^ards the government. He vras not ignorant of 
the fact that an extensive revolution was taking 
place in the minds of the nation, and he was 
conscious that the despotic oppressions of the 
Audienciahad made a large portion of the people 
of Mexico sharers with him in wrongs ; and 
these, he well knew, still rankling with the spirit 
of vengeance, would lend him their sympathy and 
support. Maturing his plans he determined 
upon a bold scheme, which would at once gratify 
his own revenge, and secure his country from 
further oppression. On the 13th of September, 
1810, being supported by his parishioners he 



iNTROlDUCtlOls*- 15 

commenced the revolution, b}^ seizing on seven 
Guachupines, as the native-born Spaniards were 
called, and confiscating their property, which he 
divided among his followers. The news of his 
success spread, with astonishing rapidity, over the 
country, and thousands rose in arms and flocked 
eagerly to his standard. 

On the 17th, thcCura of Dolores found himself 
at the head of a sufficient force to march against 
the town of San Felipe, which fell into his hands, 
and on the next day San Miguel el Grande was 
similarly occupied. He invariably seized upon 
the Spaniards, and divided their property among 
his supporters ; this course rapidly filled up his 
ranks, until finding himself at the head of twenty 
thousand men, he marched against the city of 
Guanajuato, containing seventy-five thousand 
population. His troops, though mostly armed 
with bows, machetes or swords of volcanic glass, 
and lances of the same material, assaulted the 
town, and after driving the garrison into the 
Alhondiga or granary, succeeded in carrying that 
building, after a fierce conflict, and put ever}' 
European to the sword. 

In the Alhondiga he captured five millions of 
money, with which he armed and equipped his 
forces, and moved against Valladolid. This city 
fell without a struggle, and here Hidalgo received 
reinforcements sufficient to swell the insurgent 
army to sixty thousand men. Among these 
reinforcements was Don Jose Maria Morelos, 
padre of the town of Nucapetaro, a man of 
deep thought and powerful intellect, and withal 
possessed of a bold spirit of indomitable perse- 
verance. His remarkable firmness, combined 
with great gentleness of manner, pointed him 



16 istJioDuc'riois^ 

out as a man well suited for a leader : and as he 
had been an old friend of Hidalgo's, the patriot 
padre, who was now considered, by universal 
consent, as the supremedirector of the revolution, 
bestowed upon Morelos the command of all the 
south-western coast, where he rendered most 
efficient service to the insurgent cause. 

Hidalgo now determined to move against the 
the city of Mexico. Vanegas, the Viceroyj 
speedily assembled an army of seven thousand 
Spanish troops, and placed them under the com* 
mand of Col. Truxillo, and Col. Augustino Itur- 
bide, a Mexican officer, vvho was now fighting in 
the Spanish service. Truxillo and Iturbide 
advanced with their forces to meet the insurgents 
before they could reach the capital. On the 30th 
of October, the army of Hidalgo attacked the 
royal troops where they were fortified, in the 
mountain pass of Las Cruces, between Mexico 
and the city of Toluca. After a severe conflict, 
in which the insurgents lost a considerable num- 
ber of troops, Hidalgo was victorious, and the 
ro^^al army fell back upon the capital. Hidalgo 
advanced rapidly towards the city, which was 
now^ in the utmost consternation. When within 
a few miles of the capital, and in sight of its 
domes and spires, Hidalgo was seized with one 
of those unaccountable dreads that sometimes 
paralyze the greatest malitary geniuses. He 
halted, and notwithstanding the advice and 
protestations of some of his best officers, he 
commenced a retreat upon Valladolid with all 
his forces. But, on the 7th of- November, he 
encountered a portion of the Viceroy's forces, 
under the command of Calleja, at Aculco. A 
fierce battle ensued, the line of the insurgents 



INTRODUCTION. . IT 

was broken, and a route and indiscriminate 
slaughter ensued, and ten thousand insurgents 
were slain upon the field. 

Collecting a considerable army from the fugi- 
tives, Hidalgo reached Valladolid, and proceeded 
directly on to Guadalajara, where he made his 
headquarters, until he could again equip an army. 
Calleja was again sent in pursuit of him. 
Hidalgo had received such a plentiful supply of 
artillery from Morelos, at San Bias, on the Pacific, 
that he determined to risk another engagement. 
He advanced to the bridge of Calderon, sixteen 
leagues from Guadalajara, and fortified, to await 
the approach of the Viceroy's army. 

On the 16th of January, Calleja advanced on 
Calderon, and commenced the conflict. The 
insurgents were at first successful, but were 
finally compelled to commence a retreat. 
Leaving Guadalajara to fall into the hands of 
Calleja, Hidalgo, with his army, retreated to 
Saltillo, where it was determined to leave the 
forces under the command of the licentiate Rayon, 
while Hidalgo, with Allende and several of the 
other principal generals, were to proceed to the 
United States, to purchase e^rms and procure 
assistance. These patriot chieftains set out on 
their mission, and had reached Chihuahua, where 
on the 21st of March, 1811, they were betrayed 
by a former partisan, and delivered up to the 
viceroy al authorities. After a tedious and dis- 
graceful trial, Hidalgo and his associates were 
condemned and shot. Thus lived and died the 
father and originator of the Mexican revolution. 
He lived long enough to fulfil his destiny, and 
to sever the first link of the galling chain that 
fettered his enslaved country; he had kindled 
and inflamed the spirit of liberty that was 



IS INTRODUCTION. 

eventually to shake off the despotism of the 
Spanish crown. If his hands were sometimes 
stained with innocent blood, his conduct has some 
palliation from the circumstances by which he 
was surrounded. The Viceroy and Audiencia 
had declared that the ordinary usages of war 
were not to be regarded in the contest with the 
insurgents ; wherever their leaders were arrested 
they were forthwith shot. This provoked that 
terrible system of retaliaticn which Hidalgo 
adopted ; and it is said that, under his direction, 
more than seven hundred Europeans were taken 
out, by tens and twenties, to secret places, and 
shot, for no other offence than that they were 
Guachupines or Spaniards. 

During the life of Hidalgo no regular system 
of union had been adopted; the insurgents 
seemed to fight from impulse, not from principle ; 
they had as yet no aim to their endeavors. The 
masses, who had been so long oppressed, seized 
upon the insurrection as a fa\T>rable opportunity 
to obtain temporary reUef from their sufferings, 
and to wreak their vengeance upon the Guachu- 
pines. This system of conducting a revolution 
was manifestly wrong ; the fitful ebullitions of 
impulse were of too ephemeral a character to lead 
to any great results ; it required some basis rest- 
ing upon principle, where all could unite in 
combined action, to ensure any permanent benefit 
to the country. Hidalgo, Morelos and Allende 
were capable of leading, controlling and discip- 
lining the turbulent and multifarious masses that 
composed the army of the insurgents, but they 
v/ere incapable of devising any plan of union, 
which would unite the whole people in a common 
interest, and direct their efforts to a common end. 
The spirit that had first actuated the insui-gents 



INTRODUCTION. 19 

was beginning to sink under repeated misfor- 
tunes; the fires were waning, and it required some 
new stroke of policy, some master mind, to devise 
means to rekindle them. Fortunately there was 
one man found equal to this emergency ; this was 
the licentiate Rayon, w^ho had joined Hidalgo at 
Guadalajara previous to the defeat of Puente 
Calderon. Immediately on joining the insurrec- 
tionary movement he perceived the want of unity 
of action, and his active mind began to search out 
some means to supply so material a want. He 
at length proposed the plan of a national council, 
the members of which were to be elected by the 
people, and the council to be recognised as the civil 
government by the officers of the army. Having 
proposed the plan, he set about its execution ; 
and upon the 10th of September, 1811, he, as the 
head of the army, formally instituted the Junta 
of Ziticuaro. This council gave tone to the 
subsequent events of the revolution, and formed 
the basis of the Congress of Chilpanzingo, which 
gave birth to the Constitution of 1814. 

After the death of Hidalgo, Morelos became 
the head of the revolutionary party, and after 
various successes and reverses, he was captured, 
while conducting the Congress from the forest of 
Aputzingan, w^hereit had been driven for shelter, 
to Tehuacan. It is needless to say that he was 
immediately executed, which event took place in 
December, 1815. With the death of Morelos the 
hopes of the insurgents seemed to sink. There 
w^as no great leader w^ho could unite all the 
forces, and when Don Manuel de Mier y Teran, 
to whom had been entrusted the care of the 
Congress, found himself unable to support that 
body, he was forced, in self defence, to dissolve 
It; this destro^'Cd the last hope of union, and 



20 INTRODUCTION. 

the insurgent chiefs were scattered throughout 
the country, with separate commands. Rayon, 
Teran, Nicholas Bravo — the last of that patriot 
family, and the gallant officer who so lately com- 
manded the fortress of Chapultepec, and was there 
captured by the Americans — were successively 
crushed in detail by the forces of the Viceroy. 
Apodaca, who had now succeeded to the viceroy- 
alty, by his mild and temporising policy towards 
such of the insurgents as would lay down their 
arms, and the inflexible rigor with which he 
pursued those who retained them, at length 
succeeded in disarming the greater part of the 
revolutionary troops. 

At this time Don Xavier Mina, (who had been 
compelled to fly from Spain, when Ferdinand, 
being restored, disregarded and overturned the 
constitution in 1814,) sought an asylum in the 
United States, where he conceived the idea of 
raising and equipping a force for the aid of the 
insurgent party in Mexico. Having matured 
his plans, he succeeded in raising a force of 
upwards of three hundi^ed men, with which he 
embarked in the Chesapeake, on the 1st of Sep- 
tember, 1816. After numerous delays he finally 
succeeded in landing his forces, on the 15th of 
April, 1817, at Soto La Marina, between Tampico 
and the Rio Grande. Notwitstanding the activity 
of the Viceroy, who had ordered out a fleet to inter- 
cept him, Mina succeeded in landing his troops, 
without molestation, and throwing up speedily a 
fort in which he left one hundred and thirty men, 
he commenced his march to the provincias 
interna^, where he effected a junction with Father 
Torres, the prototype of the late Padre Jarauta, 
who was commanding in the Baxio of Guanax- 
uato. After a series of bold and brilliant efforts, 



INTRODUCTION. 21 

this chieftain was at length betrayed and cap- 
tured and immediately executed, while his 
associates, most of whom were Americans, were, 
after severe losses in battle, captured and impris- 
oned in the dungeons of San Juan de Ulloa and 
other fortresses; and I have seen it asserted that 
the only sm'viving member of this ill-fated expe- 
dition is the senior editor of the St. Louis 
Reveille. Father Torres and Guadalupe Victoria 
were now the only chiefs in arms ; the latter had 
been deputed, in 1814, by Morelos, as the com- 
mander of the Eastern coast. He had established 
his position in the vicinity of Vera Cruz, where, 
by a series of bold and energetic strokes, in the 
neighborhood of Puente de San Juan and Puente 
Nacional, he succeeded in keeping the Viceroy in 
continual alarm. His system of tactics was a 
peculiar one ; he kept an army of about two 
thousand men, who, in case of a reverse, were 
dispersed in a moment, to reassemble at some 
distant point, whence he would again renew his 
attack, while the enemy were utterly unconscious 
of his proximity. Apodaca determined to put 
down so dangerous and vexatious an enemy, and 
accordingly sent his best troops in large numbers. 
Victoria was well acquainted with the barrancas 
and mountain fastnesses, and managed long to 
elude pursuit, but at length his followers onQ_ by 
one were cut off, until he was left entirely alone ; 
but even then the Viceroy set a price upon his 
head, and for six months kept a large body of 
soldiers pursuing him, like blood hounds, through 
the dense forests and thorny chaparral with 
which the State of Vera Cruz abounds. No 
nation ever famished a prouder instance of 
patriotism than this of Victoria. After he was 
defeated, deserted and hunted with unrelenting 



22 INTRODUCTION. 

fury by his pursuers, the Viceroy offered him not 
only pardon, but the highest offices within his 
gift, if he would only desert the patriot cause. 
Victoria indignantly spurned every offer. The 
Viceroy redoubled his exertions to capture him ; 
he was forbidden to be received into any house, 
and wherever he was known to pass, the houses 
in the vicinity were consumed with fire. The 
Indians and Zambos, therefore, shunned him, or 
joined, through self defence, in his pursuit. He 
was, at length, forced beyond the pale of habita- 
tion, and, seeking the most inaccessible mountains 
within his reach, he remained for thirty months 
without tasting bread, and without clothes. His 
body became covered with hair, and he subsisted 
upon fruits and berries, and during the winter he 
was frequently compelled to go four or five days 
without food, until he was so far famished that 
he would gladly have devoured a meal from 
the carcasses of such dead animals as he could 
find. During all this time he saw no human be- 
ing, and the Viceroy was convinced, at length, 
that his bones had been found. When his pur- 
suers were pressing him hard, and two faithful 
Indians alone remained with him, he directed 
these to leave him for their own safety; as 
he separated from them and' dived into the 
almost impenetrable forest, they enquired of 
him where he might be found, if his country 
should again have need of him ; he pointed to a 
steep and inaccessible mountain, and told them 
that there they might probably find his bones. 
When the events had taken a turn, in 1821, the 
Indians sought the spot, and searched six whole 
weeks in vain for Victoria ; at length they discov- 
ered his footprints in a small stream, where it 
appeared he occasionally crossed. Their food 



INTRODUCTION. 23 

had now nearly given out, and they determined 
to return home, to procure more and renew their 
search. One of the Indians, however, suspended 
four cakes of maize or tortillas in a tree, directly 
over the footprint, in the hope that Victoria might 
again pass and perceive that some friend was in 
search of him. The plan succeeded ; Victoria 
passed again, in a few days, and discovered the 
tortillas, and as he had been four days without 
food, he devoured them before he reflected on the 
singularity of finding food in such a desert place. 
Revolving the matter, at length, in his own mind, 
he concluded that whoever had placed the food 
there would anon return, and he determined to 
await near the spot, to ascertain, if possible, 
their object in visiting so wild a spot. The Indian 
soon returned, and Victoria recognising him as he 
approached, was so overcome with joy that he 
leaped from his hiding place, and rushed forward 
to embrace him. The Indian, seeing the appa- 
rition of a man springing from the bushes, with 
a naked sword in his hand and his body covered 
with hair and partly wrapped in a tattered cotton 
cloth, fled in affright, and it was not until he heard 
himself repeatedly called byname andbeseeched 
to retm'n that he ventured to stop. As Victoria 
approached him, the Indian recognized his old 
master, and was so affected at his pitiable con- 
dition that he wept like a child. Such a remark- 
able life of trials and adventures it would scarcely 
be believed could occur in the present century; 
and were the facts not so well and abundantly 
authenticated, they would hardly be worthy of 
narration. So soon as it was known that Guada- 
lupe Victoria still lived, and had again appeared, 
his name acted like magic, and the hardy Jaro- 
chas, or men of the tien^a caliente flocked by 



24 IXTRODUCTION. 

thousands to his standard, and he aided Iturbide 
in throwing off the Spanish yoke, until Iturbide's 
oppression again drove him to seek shelter in the 
the barrancas and chaparral, whence he emerged, 
after the abdication of Iturbide, to preside as the 
first President of Mexico. 



CHAPTER m. 



Iturbide— " The Plan of Iguala"— The Empire— The overthrow 
of Iturbide and the establishment of a Republic — Election of 
Victoria — Election of Pedraza — Plan of Perote — Guerrero — 
Santa Anna. 

About this juncture, one of the most remarka- 
ble men that Mexico ever produced began to play 
an important part upon the political stage. This 
was Don Augustino Iturbide. At the commence- 
ment of the struggle he had been one of the first 
to espouse the cause of the insurgents, but some 
disagreement with the insurgent chiefs drove him 
from their ranks, and he obtained a Colonel's 
commission under the Viceroy. In this capacity 
he became celebrated for his malignance towards 
the insurgents, his old associates. He endeavored 
to win the confidence of the Viceroy, by his bar- 
barous persecution of the republicans, and upon 
one occasion he Avrote Apodaca that, in honor of 
Good Friday, he had just ordered three hundred 
prisoners to be shot. His predatory disposition 
and intolerable rapacity induced the Viceroy, 
Apodaca, to recall him from a high command he 
had given him in the Baxio. Iturbide then with- 
drew from the sersdce, and remained from 1810 to 



INTRODUCTION. 25 

1820 in retirement, where he practised the great- 
est austerities, and by a constant exercise of 
the most rigorous rehgious duties, so far ingra- 
tiated himself into the favor of the clergy, that 
they ever afterwards became his greatest friends, 
and in his after career, they mainly contributed to 
his success, by using their influence over the minds 
of the people in allaying the prejudices, which his 
former cruelties had excited. 

In 1821, Iturbide emerged from his retirement, 
and was sent towards the south by the Viceroy in 
command of a large native force, to meet a strong 
rebellion, which Guerrero was stirring up in that 
quarter. Finding this a favorable opportunity 
for the commencement of his ambitious schemes, 
he, on the 24th of February, 1821, convened his 
officers at Iguala, and submitted to their consider- 
ation, the plan of ^^The three Guarantees,^'' for 
the establishment of an independent government 
in Mexico. 

This plan, known in the history of the country 
as "The Plan of Iguala" comprised three proposi- 
tions, the sum of which were : That Mexico should 
be considered an independent constitutional mon- 
archy, the sovereignty of which should be succes- 
sively offered to the Spanish king, and the male 
heirs to the Spanish crown upon condition, that 
the one accepting should reside in Mexico. 
That the Catholic religion should be supported 
and protected; and that every class of actual in- 
habitants should enjoy the same political immu- 
nities without regard to birth or station. 

The officers enthusiastically seconded the pro- 
positions of the wily chieftain, and the troops, 
ever ready for any revolution, were easily per- 
suaded to lend their aid to the accomplishment of 
the scheme. 

2 



26 INTRODUCTION. 

The history of Mexico became now, for a time, 
merged in that of Iturbide. 

Victoria, Guerrero, Santa Anna, now first ri- 
sing into notice, with Bustamente and a host of 
minor chieftains immediately joined the army of 
"The three Guarantees," as it was now called, 
with all their forces. The Spanish troops retired 
into the capital, leaving all the other cities in the 
hands of the independents. 

While affairs where in this posture. General 
O'Donoju arrivedfrom Spain, with a commission 
as captain general of Mexico. He was immedi- 
ately besieged by the troops under Itm-bide, and 
forced into a treaty, by which he acknowledged 
the independence of Mexico, and fully acceded to 
the terms of the three guarantees, and he further 
stipulated that the Spanish troops should, as soon 
as possible, be withdrawn from the country. Itm'- 
bide entered the capital, and a junto for the gov- 
ernment of affairs was the same day formed with 
Iturbide at its head, while a commission was 
sent to Spain with the propositions of the inde- 
pendents. 

Anticipating the answer which would be re- 
turned to the propositions, Iturbide in order to 
perfect his ambitious views began to seek assidu- 
ously the favor of all parties, except the old in- 
surgent party, and its chiefs, for these maintain- 
ed a settled opposition to his schemes. By the 
most meretricious intrigues and artful seductions, 
he succeeded in gaining illimitable popularit}^ 
with the clergy, the army and the people. 

The abrogation of the treaty signed by O'Don- 
oju, and the refusal of the terms of the^ three 
guarantees by the Spanish crown and Cortes, 
were made known in Mexico in April, 1822. It 
was to the reception of such an answer, that Itur- 



INTRODUCTION. 27 

bide looked as the proper moment for the com- 
pletion of his aspirations, and now all those arts 
and dissimulations, which his imitator Santa 
Anna has so successfully exercised, were brought 
to bear; and on the 18th of May, the people and 
the army at the capital unanimously proclaimed 
Iturbide Emperor of Mexico, with the title of 
Augustin the first. 

This accession of one of their most bitter 
enemies to the throne could not but displease 
the chiefs and members of the old insurgent par- 
ty, and as Iturbide's despotism was only calcula- 
ted to arouse more fully their indignation, they 
retired in disgust from his court, and betook them- 
selves to their ancient districts. Santa Anna, 
however, held the Emperor's commission as com- 
mandant of the province of Vera Cruz, but on 
account of some suspicions, the Emperor sent an 
order for the removal of Santa Anna, and sum- 
moning him to appear at the capital. 

Santa Anna was informed of the order at 
Jalapa; he immediately set out for Vera Cruz, 
and succeeded in anticipating the arrival of the 
order. He assembled the garrison, and haran- 
gued them upon the injustice of the Emperor, and 
persuaded them, by his bold and impassioned 
eloquence, to aid him in subverting so iniquitous 
a government. The troops, inflamed by his elo- 
quence, immediately joined him, and he set out 
to seize upon Jalapa, but Echavarri, the captain- 
general, repulsed him from this point, and forced 
him to fall back to the heights that overlook the 
Puente Nacional. 

Guadalupe Victoria, who had for some months 
been forced to resume his wild life in his inacces- 
sible haunts in the mountains, so soon as he heard 
of Santa Anna's insurrection, again emerged from 



2S tNTRODUCTlON. 

his hiding place, and joined the rebellion with his 
faithful Jarochas. The firm front which Echavar- 
ri opposed to the insurgents was an insurmount- 
able obstacle to the success of their enterprise, 
until the wily intrigues of Santa Anna succeeded 
in winning over, not only Echavarri, but all his 
forces. This insured success; the "Plan" or "Act 
of Casas Matas" was immediately concocted, and 
met with the support of the whole nation. The 
troops headed by Victoria, marched towards the 
Capital and Iturbide, seeing his deserted and de- 
plorable condition, v»dthout a struggle, abdicated 
the imperial throne.just ten months after his ascen- 
sion. 

The ex-emperor was escorted to Vera Cruz, and 
embarked with his suite, on the 11th of May, for 
Leghorn. The Mexican government covenanted 
to pay to the ex-emperor an annual pension of 
twenty-five thousand dollars, upon the condition, 
that he should reside in Italy, and to his family, 
after his death, the sum of eighteen thousand an- 
nually. By the counsel of evil advisers, Iturbide 
was induced in 1824 to leave his family, and return 
to Mexico, for the purpose of overthrowing the 
existing government; but immediately on his ar- 
rival at Soto La Marina, he was betrayed, carried 
before the Congress, and immediately shot. Thus 
terminated the career of one of the greatest and 
most remarkable men, Mexico ever produced. 
He had made himself thoroughly acquainted with 
every class of Mexican society, and he knew their 
wants and capabilities better than any other man 
has ever pretended to know; and had he not been 
surrounded by such bitter enemies, it is probable 
that he would have made so good a monarch, 
that Mexico would have to this day been an in- 
dependent empire. 



INTRODUCTION. 29 

As soon as the army obtained the abdication from 
Itm"bide, they instituted a commission of three to 
regulate, and preside over governmental affairs, 
until a more legitimate government could be 
formed. 

On the 4th of October, 1824, a constitution 
following closely after the model of that of the 
United States was solemnly adopted, and Guada- 
lupe Victoria was soon after elected as first Presi- 
dent of Mexico, with Don Nicolas Bravo as Vice- 
President. This proved a most unfortunate elec- 
tion, for the President and Vice-President were 
bitter enemies; and the Vice-President, at one 
time, openly headed a rebellion against the gov- 
ment. Such a state of things could not long last. 
Republican government was not here, as in the 
United States, builtTupon the indestructible prin- 
ciples of liberty and equal rights. It was not 
based upon tried philosophy, and a proper adapt- 
ation to the peculiar character of the people. 

It was unfortunate for Mexico, that the 
events which brought about her severance from 
Spain, hurried forward the crisis before the proper 
time had arrived for its maturity. They were a 
people only preparing, not prepared, for liberty; 
the rays of enlightenment had but begun to 
penetrate the dark clouds of ignorance and sla- 
vish superstition, which had so long enveloped 
the minds of the masses; and any people are un- 
fitted for liberty, while they are merged in the 
night of ignorance. Enlightenment is the in- 
separable concomitant of liberty; they mutually 
depend upon each other for existence and sup- 
port. Before a people can be politically free, 
they must be morally and mentally free; and the 
body that contains a free spirit cannot be en- 
slaved by the despotism of tyranny. 



30 INTRODUCTION. 

That Mexico assumed a republican form of 
government before her people were calculated to 
receive it, and while they were still grovelling in 
the sloughs of superstition, is the true cause of 
all her subsequent difficulties and disasters. Her 
people threw off the yoke of one master to become 
the slaves of many. Each military chieftain 
seized upon some district, over which he held as 
supreme and absolute sway, as did the ancient 
feudal barons in the days of King Pepin. Each 
acted independently of the others, and the spirit of 
liberty which had at first actuated them, was 
gradually frittered away in ineffectual and febrile 
insurrections, until patriotism became finally lost 
in perfidy and ambition. It was not until the 
master mind of Iturbide worked them up to a 
combined and impulsive effort, that they were 
finally able to achieve that misnamed liberty, 
which it was probably better for themselves and 
for the world, they had never obtained. The suc- 
cess of Iturbide only emboldened others, and serv- 
ed to stir up factions, jealousies, and discords; and 
the expulsion of the Spaniards only removed that 
common enemy, whose presence would alone 
have had the tendency to keep in equipoise those 
various factions, and unite them in a common 
interest. The fires of jealousy and discontent 
could not long be smothered; they burst out in 
civil commotions and open ruptures. The hostile 
chiefs arrayed themselves against each other; and 
in the intestine storm, the throne was upturned; 
the basis of the ephemeral empire demolished; 
and the chaotic elements in the political cauldron 
resolved themselves finally into a republic. 

Guadalupe Victoria was a man of considerable 
ability, and though the administration of the gov- 
ernment was conducted in the worst possible 



INTRODUCTION. 3.1 

manner, yet he succeeded in a measure in keep- 
ing down any violent civil wars; and partly by 
the awe and veneration which the people enter- 
tained for him, and partly by his military prowess, 
he maintained his position until the expiration 
of his term in 1828. But the selection of his suc- 
cessor gave rise to the most acrid dissensions. 

Freemasonry had been extensively introduced 
into the country, and the division in this order 
became a new element of discord. The Scotch 
and York Masons were arrayed against each other; 
each put forth its candidate; and the unhappy 
country was torn by new broils and fomentations. 
Gen. Pedraza was the candidate of the Escoceses 
and Gen. Guerrero of the Yorkinos. 

Pedraza was, after much difficulty, elected by 
an exceedingly small majority over Guerrero. 
This was the signal for open rebellion; and Santa 
Anna, who had for sometime been quietly resi- 
ding at Encerro, near Jalapa, commenced "e/ 
grito,''^ or the cry, and persuading the garrison of 
Vera Cruz to join him, he issued his pronunci- 
amento, and marched upon Perote, which he 
captured, and proclaimed the "Plan of Perote." 
The effect of this movement was that Pedraza 
was banished, and a new election was ordered, 
which resulted in the elevation of Guerrero to the 
Presidency, with Don Anastasio Bustamente as 
Vice-President. Mexico now became a vast 
political arena, in which every petty aspirant, 
who chose to enter the lists, could get up a grito 
and pronounce against the government. 

It would be needless to follow up in detail, the 
history of those times, in which the history of the 
country becomes so encumbered with the ope- 
ations of petty military chieftians, that it is al- 
most impossible to thread one's way with truth 



32 INTRODUCTION, 

and clearness, through the intricate and laby- 
rinthian mazes. 

It began now to be apparent, that it was im- 
possible to build up a republican government, 
of any stability, from such heterogeneous and 
discordant materials, as Mexican society was at 
this time composed. The opposite and disjunc- 
tive interests of such a varied community began 
now to clash with fearful collisions; revolutions 
and counter revolutions followed each other in 
rapid succession, caused by the wrestle for power 
among the military aspirants; and the govern- 
ment became a mere military despotism, as no 
administration could sustain ittgelf long without 
force of arms. Peculation and abstraction were 
openly practised in every department, and the 
public coffers were overtly proclaimed as the 
spoils of the successful aspirant. Honesty and 
probity were almost totally blotted out from the 
social and political vocabularies, and there was 
almost a total desuetude ofvij;tue itself Worth 
and merit were of no weight in the bestowal of 
honors; and the contest for office became a mere 
game for power, in which that man could win, 
who could bring into the field the greatest 
amount of perfidy and cunning. 

Those who obtained power were merely po- 
litical charlatans; and government was a mere 
experiment; an experiment not prompted by any 
spirit of patriotism, but by the base and selfish 
purposes of partisan aggrandizement. 

Such a deplorable state of things naturally 
enough shook loose all the bonds that cemented 
the social system of society. The people par- 
took of the turpitude of their rulers; dissimula- 
tion was every where practised; cunning and 
finesse were esteemed fine virtues, and distrust 



iNTRO&UCTlOi^. 3^^ 

was met by deception, and artifice. The proud- 
est professions and sincerest promises were only 
a specious guke for the blackest intrigues and 
most perfidious schemeSi 

It was impossible for a society, resting upon 
so false a basis, ever to obtain true liberty and 
political independence; and the subsequent his- 
tory of Mexico, even up to the present time, has 
fully shown, that her people have ever as yet 
been totally incompetent for self-government* 
History furnishes no example of a government, 
where anarchy and misrule have been more rife 
than in Mexico, since the adoption of the consti- 
tution of 1824. ' 

The recent contest of Mexico with the United 
States must have the undeniable effect of eleva- 
ting her people; and if national regenerations 
were not such rare phenomena in history, we 
might still hope that Mexico will yet be able to 
demonstrate, that her people are capable of gov- 
erning themselves. 

The elevation of Guerrero was little calcula- 
ted to restore quiet, and order to the republic^ 
The opposition to his administration became 
more and more general, until he was finally de- 
posed in a short time after his election. Busta- 
mente now assumed the government, and Guer- 
rero took up arms against it. For three years 
the country was ravaged and devastated by in- 
testine wars, until Guerrero was at last captured 
and executed. 

The people incapable of remaining quiet under 
any administration began to clamor so loudly 
against Bustamente, that the wily Santa Anna, 
always on the watch to seize on every opportu- 
nity for self advancement, got up a pronunci- 
amento against the government, and marched 
2* 



^4 iNtftODUCTfoM. 

against it, with the troops at Vera Cruz. Geil. 
Calderon met him atTalome, and after defeating 
and driving him back, besieged him at Vera 
Cruz. Santa Anna at length obtained reinforce- 
ments, and defeating Calderon, forced him to 
leave the country, while he proceeded to depose 
Bustamente, and declared that Pedrazahad been 
duly elected in 1828. Fedraza now resumed 
the Presidency until the expiration of his term 
in March, 1833, when Santa Anna was elevated 
to that dignity with Gomez Farias as Vice-Presi- 
dent. 

The two ruling minds in Mexico now were 
Santa Anna and Don Lucas aA-laman. Both 
were equally ambitious and equally unscrupu- 
lous as to the means of gratifying their ambi- 
tion. As like poJes in magnetism constantly 
repel each other, so these two master minds actu- 
ated by like impulses perpetually opposed each 
other. And it is to the enmity and ambition of 
these two men, that Mexico is indebted, more 
than to anything else, for her present degraded 
social and political condition. 

Don Lucas Alaman was a mere cabinet polit- 
ician; finding himself like Demosthenes placed 
in a country, where the field was the high road 
to power, and being, by a constitutional coward- 
ice, physically incapable of meeting the dangers 
of war, he determined to adopt some other pro 
fession than arms, for the furtherance of his 
ambition. He became the most artful and skil- 
ful politician in all Mexico. But Santa Anna 
had a diversity of powers and a wonderful fertil- 
ity of mind; he could wield with equal force his 
tongue, his pen and his sword. The vast resources 
of his mind were second only to his ambition, 
and amidst all the trying scenes and perplexing 



INTRODUCTION. 



35 



difficulties through which he has had to pass, his 
ingenuity has never failed him, and he has al- 
ways been found equal to any emergency; and 
not only Don Lucas Alaman, but all his other 
enemies, have been forced to succumb to his 
superior power. 

Santa Anna is, without'exception, the most 
remarkable man of the present age; he has gone 
through more successes and reverses, than any 
man now living, and is yet not fifty years of age. 
He first made his appearance in the history of 
Mexico in the revolution of 1821, as commander 
of a large body of insurgents, with v^hom he 
seized upon Vera Cruz. He next made the bold 
and successful stroke which overthrew Iturbide, 
and established a republic. During the adminis- 
tration of Victoria, he remained in comparitive 
quietness until the election of Pedraza, when he 
again headed the revolt, which resulted in the 
election of Guerrero. In 1829, Santa Anna was 
in the cabinet, but hearing that the Spaniards, 
who had for so long a time left Mexico unmolest- 
ed, were about to make a new attempt at con- 
quest, he immediately left his bureau and as- 
sembling seven hundred men crossed in pirogues 
from Tuspan over the* lake Jamaihua to Tam- 
pico, where the Spanish General Barradas had 
already landed with four thousand veteran troops. 
Though Santa Anna was in command of only 
seven hundred men, yet by a bold military chef 
rf' cp-uvre and stratagem, he" succeeded in taking 
the town, and finally forced the enemy into a 
capitulation. This was the last attempt of 
Spain against Mexico, and the issue established 
Santa Anna's military reputation upon a firm 
basis. This defeat of Barradas by Santa Anna, 
with his provincial troops, has frequently, and 



^6 INTRODUCTION. 

not inaptly, been compared to Gen. Jackson^s 
defence at New Orleans. 

^anta Anna next made his appearance against 
Guerrero's administration, which he overthrew 
and re-established Pedraza, at the expiration of 
whose term, he himself was made President. 

It would be unnecessary to narrate in detail 
the fortunes of Santa Anna; his whole life has 
been a tissue of intrigues and dangers, and the 
public are too well aware of the ups and downs 
of his latter life, to need any repetition of them 
here. We behold him at one time the supreme 
dictator of the land, and then a prisoner in a for- 
eign camp begging for his life. Now laboring un- 
der the greatest popular odium, and then by the 
exercise of his winning arts, and his persuasive 
eloquence, which few can resist, again rising 
into power as the idol of the nation. Now de- 
posed, arraigned, and tried for his life, yet by 
his power of argument forcing his malignant 
accusers to commute his punishment to ostra- 
cism, from which he is called to assume the 
supreme command of the armies of his country. 

None other than a man of most extraordinary 
abilities could have passed through the checker- 
ed scenes, which form the history of Santa Anna. 
Turmoil and strife are his elements. When the 
billows of popular fury have been roused, Santa 
Anna has usually been found as their ruling 
spirit: he did not rule them by pouring oil upon 
the troubled waters, but like the boisterous 
whirlwind worked them into waves of his own 
will, that he might dash them with overwhelm- 
ing force against his enemies. But if sometimes 
these billows have rolled back upon him with 
threatening fury, yet he has always found means 
to extricate himself from his dangers, and to rise 
at length superior to the storm. 



lKtR06iJC'/ioSf; 3f 



CHAPTER IV. 

Revolution in Texas— Contests between the Texans and Mexi- 
cans — Texas declared and acknowledged independent by the 
United States and other powers — Annexation — Commence- 
ment of the war— Battles of the 8th and 9th o'f May. 

Santa Anna immediately upon assuming the 
government, resorted to the most arbitrary meas- 
ures to establish his power. He procured the 
banishment of certain of his enemies, and effect- 
ed the repeal of ^such laws, as he deemed offen* 
sive. 

In 1835, the Congress assembled for the pur- 
pose of altering and remodelling the Constitu-^ 
tion. Considerable opposition was manifested 
by some of the States to this alteration of the 
Constitution; among others, were the States of 
Texas, and Coahuila and Zacatecas. Santa 
Anna immediately marched against the latter 
State, and after a bloody battle on the 11th of 
May, reduced it to submission. 

Congress however proceeded to set aside the 
Constitution of 1824, and in its stead established 
one that robbed the States of their independent 
powers, and annihilated their legislatures, and 
concentrated their whole power in a central gov^ 
ernment. 

The territory of Texas had been filled up with 
a hardy population from the United States, who 
had been induced to settle there by the favorable 
offers of the Mexican government. 

This population brought with them the true 
republican spirit, they had been so long accuse 



3S INTRODUCTION* 

tomed to the free exercise of democratic liberty, 
that they could not brook any form of goverment, 
Which would in any way undermine, or interfere 
with their rights as freemen. 

When they accepted the terms of the Mexican 
government, and settled in Texas, they swore to 
sustain the constitution of 1824, which granted 
them nearly all the immunities they were ac- 
customed to enjoy in the United States. When, 
therefore, the Congress in 1835, proposed to alter 
their constitution, so as to give the States no 
longer the power to regulate their domestic con- 
cerns by State Legislatures, but to destroy the 
right of independent legislation and remove the 
law making power to a distant central, govern- 
ment endowed with dictatorial power, Texas re- 
spectfully protested against such an alteration; 
Zacatecas did likewise; but the Congress with 
their dictator, Santa Anna, proceeded to disre- 
gard these earnest protestations, and while Santa 
Annawasreducing Zacatecas to an acquiescence, 
the constitution of centralization was promul- 
gated. 

Texas rightly conceived that by this act, the 
terms of the confederacy were violated; that the 
conditions upon which they became citizens of 
Mexico were broken. They had sworn to sup- 
port the constitution of 1824; that constitution 
had been overturned; their firm protestations had 
been disregarded, and Zacatecas for seconding 
these protestations had been overrun and sub- 
dued by the troops of the President. They con- 
sidered themselves absolved from their oath of 
citizenship, and they determined rather than 
submit like Zacatecas, to declare themselves in- 
dependent of Mexico, and to establish a govern- 



tNTRobuctioK. 39 

nient of their own. Accordingly a Congress of 
nine persons in December, 1835, assembled at 
Goliad, and declared Texas an independent State. 

The March following a more formal and legit- 
imate declaration of independence was made at 
Washington in Texas, and a temporar}* govern- 
ment was formed, with Samuel Houston as com- 
mander-in'-chief. 

The whole State had been for sometime in awe, 
as they were menaced with invasion upon the 
first manifestation of discontent. Already sev- 
eral skirmishes had ensued between the Texans 
and the Mexicans; and each engagement proved 
the superiority of the Texans. 

During the latter part of 1835, Col Travis as» 
seinbled a small force and marching against the 
Mexican garrison at Anahuo.ca, forced the com- 
mander Captain Tenoria, though in command of 
a much larger forcej to surrender to him. CoL 
Bowie with Col. Fanning, soon after the sur- 
render of Anahuoca, with a command of less 
than one hundred men, fought the celebrated 
battle of Conception and defeated four hundred 
and fifty Mexicans. In November, 1835. two 
hundred Texans defeated four hundred Mexi- 
cans near Bexar, and drove them into the town, 
where they remained under cover of their artil- 
lery. And in December of the same year, two 
hundred and nineteen Texans under Col. Milam 
took the town of Antonio de Bexar, and the 
Alamo, although they were defended by thir- 
teen hundred Mexicans. These engagements 
were of immense advantage to the I'exans, it 
taught them what kindof an enemy they had to 
contend against and convinced them of their 
own superiority. It at the same time united all 
parties in favor of the revolution, and it was this 



40 tNTRobucflOI^^ 

union of interests that finally so successfully ac- 
complished the revolution, for the territory had 
at this time, but a meagre population, and this 
was extended over a wide district of country, and 
any division would have proved fatal to the 
cause of liberty. 

Santa Anna, upon the first outbreaks, sent 
General Cos to Monclova, then the seat of gov- 
ernment of Texas and Coahuila, with orders to 
c[uell any disturbance in that quarter. Gen. Cos 
proceeded to Monclova with a large force, and 
required the surrender of the Governor with 
numerous citizens of Texas and Coahuila. This 
was indignantly refused, and the legislature was 
dispersed, and the Texans were ordered to sur- 
render all their arms. 

This requisition, of course, barred all hopes of 
reconciliation, and Gen. Cos crossed the Rio 
Grande, and entrenched himself at San Antonio, 
and it was here that Col. Milam defeated him, 
but fell himself in gaining the victory. 

So soon as Santa Anna heard of the defeat of 
Gen. Cos, he set out himself for Texas, and early 
in 1836, crossed the Rio Grande with more than 
ten thousand men. This army advanced with a 
red flag at its head, and with the command to 
give no quarter. They sent forward a strong 
advance, which laid siege to the Alamo, where the 
heroic Col. Travis was in command of one hun- 
dred and forty-five men. For six days this 
littleband of Spartans resisted every attack of the 
enemy, but at length Santa Anna arrived, with 
the remainder of the troops, and assumed the 
direction cf aff'airs. Still four days longer the 
indomitable Travis fought with the strength of 
desperation. Twice the Mexicans essayed to 
scale the walls of the fort, but the gallant Tex- 



X INTRODUCTION. 41 

ans, after emptying their guns, clubbed them, 
and drove back the assailants. The never miss- 
ing rifles of the Texians had already killed ten 
times their number; fifteen hundred Mexicans 
were killed, and Santa Anna determined on a 
last charge it succeeded; the unfortunate Travis 
with all his men were massacreed and theirbodies 
burned. It was here that Crockett, Bowie and 
Hays fell. 

Soon after this Col. Fanning with four hun- 
dred men surrendered to Gen. Urrea, and were all 
massacred in cold blood by the order of Santa 
Anna. This act is almost unequalled for bar- 
barity; and the most zealous defenders of Santa 
Anna have been unable to exculpate him from 
the charge of wholesale murder in this instance. 

As Santa Anna advanced into the country. 
Gen. Houston, who was at this time in command 
of an army of twelve hundred men, slowly fell 
back before him, until he by his manoeuvres indu- 
ced Santa Anna to separate his forces. Santa 
Anna, with fifteen hundred men, followed up 
Houston towards San Felipe. Houston still con- 
tinued to retreat. Santa Anna, anxious to move 
with more expedition, left his heavy artillery and 
pushed on. Houston now concealed his forces 
until the Mexicans crossed the Brazos, when he 
turned and marching towards Buffalo Bayou 
came up with Santa Anna, on the 19th of April, 
a skirmish ensued the next day without any seri- 
ous injury to either party. 

On the 21st, at the spot where Buffalo Bayou 
discharges itself into the San Jacinto, the battle 
of San Jacinto was fought. 

The engagement lasted sometime before either 
party obtained any decided advantage. Santa 
Anna had every advantage, that position and 



42 INTRODUCTION. 

artillery could give, but Houston at length order- 
ed the charge, when the enemy were driven from 
their position and seven hundred Mexicans went 
to appease the manes of the gallant spirits, who 
had been butchered under Travis and Fanning. 
Santa Anna himself was taken, and contray to 
his deserts was spared, and released. This 
would not have been the case bad not the coun- 
cil of war, which was held to decide upon Santa 
Anna's fate, been assured that Gen. Filasola was 
marching against Houston at the head of a large 
force. 

Santa Anna w^as released, but signed a treaty 
acknowledging the independence of Texas, and 
W4th his generals, he bound himself solemnly to 
use his influence in bringing about the ratifica- 
tion of thistreaty of independence. Santa Anna, 
however, on his return to Mexico, revoked his 
solemn pledges, and the Mexican government 
refused to acknowledge the independence of 
Texas. 

The battle of San Jacinto was the finishing 
stroke to the revolution, and though the Mexi- 
cans refused to acknowledge her independence, 
yet the other great nations of the earth soon after 
the battle of San Jacinto recognised her as an 
independent power and treated with her as such. 

After the battle of San Jacinto, Mexico made 
no attempt to reconquer Texas ; it is true a few 
Mexican troops occasionally crossed the Rio 
Grande, but their expeditions were merely preda- 
tory, and resembled more those of the Caman- 
ches, than the operations of the troops of a gov- 
ernment calling itself civilized. On one of those 
occasions, in 1842, Gen. Woll, a Mexican officer, 
advanced a considerable distance into the country 
before the inhabitants had time to rally and drive 



INTRODUCTION. 43 

him back ; at length, however, a considerable 
force was raised and sent to meet Gen. Woll, 
but this officer then commenced a retreat and 
escaped beyond the Rio Grande. The Texans 
having been foiled in this pursuit, determined not 
to return without retribution, and a plan was 
formed for the capture of Mier, a considerable 
town on the Mexican side, situated on the Rio 
Alcanta not far from its junction with the Rio 
Grande. 

The Texans under Cols. Fisher and Greene, 
though numbering but two hundi'ed and seventy, 
moved down the Rio Grande in boats and at- 
tacked the town at night, and succeeded in making 
a lodgment, but Gen. Ampudia had just arrived 
with a considerable number of troops, which 
swelled the force of the enemy to twenty-six 
hundred. This unequal contest lasted until the 
ammunition of the Texans began to fail, when 
their leader, Col. Fisher, being wounded, and 
hearing that a large number of troops were near 
to reinforce the enemy, accepted a proposition to 
surrender, and his troops laid down their arms 
upon the most solemn promise of such treat- 
ment as was usually accorded to prisoners of 
war by the most civilized nations, but Mexican 
faith has long since become synonymous with 
"Punic faith;" and Ampudia so soon as he fairly 
had his prisoners in his. power broke the terms of 
capitulation, fettered them, and marched them 
off to Mexico. 

It was unfortunate for the Texans that they 
consented to a surrender at the moment they did, 
for their own loss only amounted to some twenty- 
eight killed and wounded, while the Mexicans 
had lost upwards of seven hundred, and Gen. 
Ampudia was just mounting his horse to retire 



44 INTRODUCTION. 

with his troops from the town when the suiTender 
was accepted. 

This invasion of Gen. Woll was the last at- 
tempt of Mexico on Texas, and Texas was left 
absolutely free and independent. 

Mexico in the meanwhile had been the theatre 
of frightful revolutions. Santa Anna, on his re- 
turn from the United States, which he visited 
after his release by the Texans, found he had 
been deposed and Bustamente substituted in- 
stead. But Bustamente was too pure a man 
long to retain power in such a country as Mexico; 
and in 1840 a revolution broke out which over- 
turned the government and cast aside the con- 
stitution. Santa Anna, being the prime mover 
in this, was the one who derived most advantage 
from it, as he had prevailed upon the people to 
declare him dictator, and in that ca,pacity he con- 
tinued at the head of affairs until January; 1844, 
when he was inaugurated as president. This 
inauguration was speedily followed by another 
revolution; which effected the deposition and ban- 
ishment of Santa Anna, and Gen. Herrera was 
made President. 

The relations between Mexico and the United 
States had up to this time been of a most ami- 
cable character. The United States had been 
the first nation to acknowledge the independ- 
ence of Mexico after the revolution in that country, 
and for the sake of prospering the cause of lib- 
erty had lent a fostering hand to the support of 
the young republic; and though the imbecile 
government of Mexico perpetrated a thousand 
injuries against our citizens, yet the United States 
with magnanimous forbearance mildly demanded 
redress, which Mexico, though constantly prom- 
ising, as constantly deferred, while she continued 



ll<tP.ODOCTJON. 45 

daily to inflict new injuries upon our citizens 
and their property. 

The United States instead of exciting the emu- 
lation of Mexico only stirred her envy; and she 
constantly charged the United States with hav- 
ing openly aided Texas in her revolution. A 
long and interesting correspondence between 
M. de Bocanegra, Minister of Foreign Relations 
in Mexico, and Daniel Webster, Secretary of 
State of the United States, grew out of this 
charge. But Mr. Webster's able refutation of 
the charge, with that of Waddy Thompson, the 
U. S. Minister to Mexico, will always be consid- 
ered conclusive on this head. Though great 
numbers of our -citizens, on the breaking out of 
the Texan revolution, repaired to that country 
with their arms, and aided in bringing about the 
successful consummation of the revolution, yet 
they had a perfect right by the laws of nations 
to do so. They did not go as citizens of the 
United States, for they disfranchised themselves 
the moment they took up arms in favor of Texas, 
and the United States had no jurisdiction or 
control over them. We have no ne exeat laws, 
and could not therefore prevent our citizens from 
going whither they pleased no matter how armed 
and equipped. This charge was only invented 
by Mexico to cover, in some measure, her viola- 
tion of the laws of nations by constantly impris- 
oning, mutilating, murdering and robbing our 
citizens. 

As the people of Texas began now to talk 
about annexation to the United States, the cries 
of Mexico against the United States began to 
wax louder and more fierce. Threat after threat 
she fulminated against the United States, while 
the question was every where agitating the public 



46 INTRODUCTION. 

mind. The presidential canvass in 1844 in the 
United States mainly hinged upon this question, 
and the election of Mr. Polk, the advocate of 
annexation, over Mr. Clay, the opponent of the 
measure, was a direct manifestation of the pop- 
ular will upon this question. 

The people conceived that as a matter of pol- 
icy it became imperiously necessary to secure 
the acquisition of Texas to our territory, rather 
than let it fall into the hands of some of the 
European powers ; for Texas had declared her- 
self unable to support herself as an independent 
power ; not from any dread of Mexico, but from 
an inability to regulate her domestic affairs so as 
to meet the contingent expensd^ of government. 
In this situation she first made propositions for 
annexation to our government, but growing im- 
patient at the delay caused by the opposition to 
the measure in the United States, she made over- 
tures to England which would have been accept- 
ed, had not the proposition made to the United 
States been acceded to. It would have been a 
suicidal policy on the part of our people to have 
allowed England to obtain so large an extent of 
valuable cotton growing territory upon our bor- 
ders. It would have prostrated our cotton grow- 
ing interest ; and by rendering England inde- 
pendent of us for that great staple which sup- 
ports her manufacturing millions, would have 
severed the strongest link that binds the peace 
of the two counti'ies. The strongest argument 
that was urged against the annexation was that 
Texas did not have a perfect right to dispose of 
her people and territory. This argument was 
fallacious, for Texas had for nearly ten years 
maintained her independence, and the great pow- 
ers of the earth were so fallv convinced of her 



INTRODUCTION. 47 

ubility to do so that they had all acknowledged 
her perfect freedom. Mexico alone refused to 
recognize her independence, but continued to 
assert her title to the country, but it was a mere 
empty assertion, unsupported by any thing else 
but threats. Being then independent in every 
sense of the word, Texas had a right to cede any 
part, or all of her territory, to any other power 
she chose ; and it is only the minions of monar- 
chy that would dare to assert that a free and in- 
dependent people have not the right and power 
to make any disposition they may think proper of 
themselves and their territory. 

When Congress proceeded to take the propo- 
sition of Texas into consideration, the Mexican 
Minister at Washington, Gen. Almonte, immedi- 
ately demanded his passports, and departed re- 
iterating the threats of his government against 
us. Congress, regardless of the menacing attitude 
of Mexico, remained true to its duty, and finally, 
after much debate, succeeded in passing the bill 
to incorporate Texas into the Union. Mr. Sli- 
dell, of Louisiana, was appointed as Minister 
Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to Mex- 
ico. He immediately set out to reconcile the 
government of Mexico ; but on his arrival at the 
city of Mexico, Gen. Herrera refused to recog- 
nize him in his full official capacity, and after 
vain attempts at reconciliation he was at last 
forced to leave the affairs between the two gov- 
ernments unsettled and return home. 

Gen. Parades made the pretext that Gen. Her- 
rera was compromising the honor of Mexico in 
the controversy with the United States, marched 
with his forces upon the capital, and deposing 
Herrera occupied the executive office himself, 
until a new election could be held, when he was 



48 INTRODUCTION. 

chosen President. Probably the mild and en- 
lightened policy of Herrera might have com- 
promised the distm'bances resulting from annex- 
ation; he was too well aware of the deplorable 
distress which a war with the United States 
would produce, not to use every means to avoid 
an open collision. But the infatuated Parades, 
blind to the true interests of his country, and 
aiming at the accomplishment of his chimerical 
scheme of converting Mexico into a monarchy 
with a Bourbon prince at its head, recklessly 
provoked the crisis which subsequently produced 
the war so calamitous to his ill-fated and ill-gov- 
erned country. 

Every proffer that the United States made 
towards the reconciliation of the difficulties and 
the settlement of boundaries w^as spurned by 
Mexico with contemptuous scorn. She rejected 
all mediation, cut off all intercourse with the 
United States, and openly avowed her determin- 
ation to retake the territory ceded to the United 
States. And confessedly with this view Gen. 
Parades ordered a large force to rendezvous at 
Matamoras, under the command of Gens. Am- 
pudia. Arista and Mejia. 

Immediately after the consummation of an- 
nexation, by the ratification of the treaty by the 
Texan congress, the President of the United 
States ordered a brigade of United States troops, 
under the command of Gen. Zachary Taylor, to 
move into the territory of Texas to prevent any 
invasion by the Mexicans. In obedience to this 
order Gen. Taylor took up his quarters near the 
town of Corpus Christi, near the month of the 
Nueces river. There he remained encamped 
with his troops during the summer of 1845, and 
the subsequent winter. Early in the spring of 



FNTRODUCTIOX. 4ft 

1846 he was ordered to move down into the ter- 
ritory between the Nueces and Rio Grande, and 
to take up some effective position on or near the 
latter river. Pursuant to this command he took 
up the line of march on the 8th of March, and 
proceeded towords Matamoras on the Rio Grande. 
During the march the Mexicans sent several 
embassies to meet Gen. Taylor, and warn him 
not to approach the Rio Grande, or Gen. Mejia, 
commanding the forces of the great and magnan- 
imous Mexican Republic would completely an- 
nihilate his army. Quietly disregarding their 
threats and menaces. Gen. Taylor sent back 
their messengers with the answer that "he had 
been ordered by his government to take posses- 
sion of the territory as far as the Rio Grande." 
Accordingly he took possession of Point Isabel 
on the Gulf, as a port of entry and reception, 
and proceeded to take up his position before 
Matamoras, twenty-two miles distant. On his 
arrival before the town, (March 28th,) he planted 
a flag-staff and unlurled the stars and stripes of 
the Union upon the banks of the Rio Grande. 
The Mexican commander exasperated at this in- 
sult, as he deemed it, immediately dispatched a 
messenger to Gen. Taylor, informing him that if 
the flag was not immediately hauled down, it 
would be deemed an informal declaration of war. 
Gen. Taylor calmly responded that he was iinder 
authority, and was only obeying orders. Exas- 
perated beyond measure at the utter disregard 
of his request, the Mexican commander threat- 
ened to open his batteries upon the American 
forces. The Mexicans had planted a battery 
with a breast- work at either end of the city, and 
opposite the centre of the town a strong fort 
called Fort Passeder, had been erected, of a hcx- 
3 



50 INTRODUCTION. 

agonal form, and mounting a gun at each angle. 
Dreading no attack, yet in order to exercise due 
precaution. Gen. Taylor proceeded to throw up a 
fortification, afterwards called Fort Brown, oppo- 
site the Mexican battery at the lower end of 
the town. Gen. Taylor made several attempts 
to communicate with our consul ; but the consul 
had been imprisoned, and the Mexicans would 
allow no communicaticn to be received, nor 
would they themselves communicate with Taylor. 
Things wer^ in this state when Gen. Arista, 
with Gen. Ampudia as next in command, arrived 
with a large reinforcement of fresh troops. Sev- 
eral days expired with communications still un- 
opened, when it was reported to Gen. Taylor 
thaC a strong force of the enemy were crossing 
the river above. A small command of dragoons 
under Captains Thornton and Hardee, was forth- 
with dispatched to reconnoitre the country above, 
to the distance of twenty miles, where the enemy 
virere said to be crossing. This unfortunate com- 
mand proceeded to the execution of this duty ; 
when they came to the neighborhood of the cross- 
ing the Mexican guide refused to go further, and 
warned them not to go on, as a large force w^as in 
the neighborhood. Notwithstanding the guide's 
declaration, the command proceeded, and in a 
short time afterwards, when they were drawn 
up inside a ranch yard a force of two thousand 
Mexicans opened a fire on them and succeeded 
in killing and capturing thirteen; among the 
latter was Capt. Thornton, who w^as afterwai'ds 
exchanged and court martialed for his conduct, 
however with honorable acquittal. This occur- 
red on the twenty-fifth of April. Prior to this 
Col. Cross and Lieut. Porter had been murdered 
near the camp. 



INTRODUCTION. 51 

Affairs began now to assume rather a serious 
aspect. It was now found that the enemy, with 
Arista commanding, were crossing below the 
town in large numbers, and seemed determined 
to cut off all communication with Point Isabel, 
which they completely succeeded in doing. 

In accordance with a standing order Gen. Tay- 
lor had ordered, through Gen. Gaines, the Gov- 
ernors of Texas and Louisiana to send out a 
brigade from each of their respective States. 
This requisition was met with commendable 
promptness on the part of either State, and the 
full compliment was soon filled up with volun- 
teers. Captain Walker had, on the first sum- 
mons of the requisition, raised a company of 
Texan rangers, and by forced marches readied 
Point Isabel just at the juncture when commu- 
nications between that point and the army had 
been cut off by the intervention of the enemy. 
Walker, always remarkable for a bold, desperate 
daring, immediately determined to make a bold 
stroke, and cut his way through the enemy and 
reach Taylor's camp. This daring adventure 
was attempted with only seventy-five men . They 
had not proceeded far before they encountered 
the enemy in considerable numbers. An attack 
was commenced by the enemy, their overwhelm- 
ing numbers induced Walker's men to leave him 
and make their way back to the Point. Walker, 
however, with unblenching perseverance contin- 
ued his course with only six men, and after a 
thousand hair-breadth escapes succeeded in 
reaching the Fort, almost singly and alone. Gen. 
Taylor had now but few provisions in camp and 
the enemy had manifested a disposition to make 
an attack on Point Isabel the only provision depot, 
which, owing to the non-expectance of active 



52 iNTRODUCTIOif. 

hostilities, had been left with a force far inade- 
quate to its defence. An enemy in front, an en- 
emy in the rear, a scarcity of provisions in camp, 
and the only provision depot threatened with 
capture, were certainly circumstances calculated 
to render an army somewhat desperate. And 
such an effect had they on the American army. 
In this dilemma Gen. Taylor found that it was 
necessary to strike an effectual blow in some 
quarter. Accordingly on the first of May, leave- 
inga small force, under Major Brown, to garrison 
the fort. Gen. Taylor, with the greater portion of 
his army, and several pieces of field artillery, 
commenced his march for Point Isabel. He suc- 
ceeded in reaching that place without any mo- 
lestation from the enemy. 

Scarcely had Gen. Taylor left Fort Brown, 
before the enemy commenced a severe cannon- 
ade upon that work from their batteries around 
the city. Gen. Taylor's first impulse upon hear- 
ing the cannonade was to return to the relief of 
the fort, but feeling confident of the skill and 
ability of the officers and men, he had left in 
charge of the fort, to sustain a bombardment and 
repulse any charge that might be made upon 
the works, he continued his course towards 
Point Isabel. 

Gen. Paredes, the President of Mexico, had 
sometime previous to this ordered Gen. Arista 
to cross the Rio Grande, and attack the troops 
under Gen. Taylor. In conformity with this or- 
der, Gen. Arista crossed the river with six thou- 
sand troops, and on the night of the 4th, threw 
up a battery in the rear of Fort Brown, and after 
summoning the garrison to a surrender, which 
was of course refused, he commenced a severe 
bombardment, but finding: this ineffectual the 



INTRODUCTION. 53 

enemy attempted to carry the work by an as- 
sault, which proved equally fruitless. 

Gen. Taylor having completed his arrange- 
ments at Point Isabel, set out on the morning of 
the 7th, from that place, with tvrenty-three hun- 
dred troops, and hearing the signal guns of dis- 
tress, vi'hich were fired from the heavy guns in 
Fort Brown, he moved forward with all possible 
dispatch to the succor of the garrison. 

Gen. Arista having learned that Gen. Taylor 
was again approaching from Point Isabel, struck 
his camp at Tonques del Ramireno, and moved in 
the direction to intercept the American forces. 
On the 8th, the Mexican Commander took up his 
position about one o'clock, P. M., at the water- 
hole of Palo Alto. He established his line of 
battle upon an extensive plain, w^ith the right 
resting upon a slight elevation, and the left up- 
on a slough of difficult passage. 

About noon the advance of Gen. Taylor's army 
discovered the enemy deploying into position at 
Palo Alto, and having reported to Gen. Taylor, 
he brought up all his forces, and after an hour 
or two of rest, he formed his line of battle and 
ordered the advance. As our columns came up 
the enemy opened a deliberate, but harmless fire 
upon th< m. Halting his columns for a few mo- 
ments. Gen. Taylor ordered them to extend their 
front and return the enemy's fire. This order 
was promptly and resolutely obeyed, and in a 
few minutf s the action became general. 

For five hours the action lasted, and the enemy 
frequently attempted to break our lines by 
charges of cavalry. But Gen. Taylor had the 
flower of the American army, and they with- 
stood the charges with steady coolness, and re- 
sisted the attacks in every quarter, while our 



54 INTRODUCTION. 

incomparable artillery men, under the gallant 
Ringgold and Ridgley, poured in a devastating 
and continual stream of grape, cannister and 
round shot. The enemy firmly maintained their 
ground until night-fall, when they withdrew from 
the field, leaving our troops in possession of the 
battle ground. 

Never had troops acted better than those under 
Gen. Taylor, and they were opposed to the very 
best troops of Mexico, which, though three times 
the number of the Americans, were yet, in 
an open fight, compelled to relinquish their 
position and retire from the field. Our loss in 
this engagement amounted to fifty-four killed 
and wounded; among the latter were Maj. Ring- 
gold and Capt. Page, both of whom subsequent- 
ly died. The loss of the enemy, according to the 
report of the Mexican Commander, was two 
hundred and fifty-two killed and wounded, but it 
was doubtless nearly double that number. 

The next morning Gen. Taylor again set out 
on his march, and after a few hours descried 
the enemy in strong position awaiting his ap- 
proach at Resaca de la Palma. 

Moving forward his columns, he ordered up a 
light battery to sweep the position of the enemy, 
and the 3d, 4rh and 5th Infantry were deployed 
right and left as skirmishers to sustain the bat- 
tery. The firing now became very heavy on 
both sides, but finally the enemy's guns were 
carried in a gallant charge of Capt May's dra- 
goons, and the enemy were soon driven from all 
their positions in complete route, and pursued 
in every direction until the greater portion cross- 
ed the Rio Grande. 

The enemy sustained a loss in this action of 
more than six hundred in killed, wounded and 



INTRODUCTION. 55 

prisoners; among the latter was Gen. Romulo de 
La Vega, captured during the charge of Captain 
Ma3^ Our loss was three officers killed, and 
twelve wounded; thirty-six privates killed and 
seventy-one wounded. 

Gen. Taylor now took possession of the camps 
of the enemy, and marched into Fort Brown, 
which he found had sustained a cannonade of 
one hundred and sixty hours with only the loss 
of the gallant commander, Major Brown, killed; 
and one man killed and eleven wounded. 

Gen. Taylor soon after took Matamoras, and 
commenced his preparations against Monterey, 



HEMINISCENCES 



OF A 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO, 



CHAPTER V. 

^he commencement of the war — Its effect upon the minds of the 
people — Action of Congress — Gen. Gaines' Requisition — GoVo 
A. v. Brown's Proclamation — ^War spirit in Tennessee- 
Motives for enlisting — Government requisition for three Regi- 
ments — The "Old Voltinteer State "—Balloting— Singukr 
contest — Misunderstandliig as to the term— Elastic patriotism. 

It is scarcely eighteen months since the tocsin 
of war was sounded in our land. Who does not 
remember what intense interest was elicited by 
the approach of our little army to the Rio Grande? 
Every ear was strained to catch the faintest 
rumor of its issue; but the announcement of the 
peaceful occupation of the fort opposite Mata- 
moras had partially lulled our apprehensions, 
and we had begun to laugh at our fears, when 
suddenly peal after peal bursting upon us, told 
us too plainly that the hour had come< "It has 
begun!" was the ominous alarum cry of the 
Revolution, and now again, "It has begun!" 
needed no commentary : it swept like a tornado 
2* 



§8 REMlNtSCJfiNCES Of A 

through the land; old and young, men and 
women, felt its influence and caught its spirit, 
until the vexed and pent-up indignation of 
twenty millions of people was about to give 
vent to its impulse. Blood had been shed ; 
Thornton had been captured ; Taylor was sur-^ 
rounded ; and the war had actually commenced 1 
This, of itself, was enough to raise excitement 
to its highest pitch; but a thousand distressing 
rumors served to goad our fears and make anx^ 
iety painfully intense. To arms! to arms!! came 
from the mouth and heart of ev^ry American 
freeman. Our soil had been invaded and Amer- 
ican blood had been spilled ; and this, too, by 
an aggressor, who had so long refused to mete 
out to us even-handed justice, and who, instead 
of granting us indemnity for torts, had taken 
advantage of our spirit of forbearance to inflict 
new injuries. It was enough : casuists did not 
stop to inquire of conscience the lawfulness of 
war; politicians did not wait to argue its policy; 
and as for patriots, they only required to know 
that their country was at war; all scruples of 
conscience, party feeling, and sectional interests, 
were merged in a mightier issue, and every true 
American citizen was then ready to sustain his 
country. Justice, pride, patriotism, all demanded 
that we should promptly inflict upon our perfidi- 
ous enemy that just retribution which had been 
so long slumbering 'neath the hand of mercy. 

At this juncture, all eyes were turned upon 
the two houses of Congress, to which we looked 
as the Aaron and the Hur who w^as to sustain 
our Moses, while our good Joshua should dis- 
comfit the enemy. The prevalent enthusiasm 
had penetrated even the capitol. The President, 
immediately on the receipt of the intelligence 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 59 

of Thornton's capture, hastened to commuhicate 
the fact to Congress. Accordingly, he brought 
the matter to the consideration of that body in a 
special message of May 11th, in which, after 
giving a brief exposition of the facts, he recom- 
mended the immediate enlistment of a large 
force of volunteers, and a grant of sufficient 
means for a vigorous prosecution of the war. 
Congress promptly responded to this, by passing 
forthwith an act authorizing the President to 
accept the services of 50,000 volunteers; and for 
the purpose of carrying the provisions of the 
bill into effect they appropriated ten millions. 
Previously, however, to the passage of this act, 
Gen. Gaines, then in command at New Orleans, 
upon the first intimation of Taylor's critical posi- 
tion, had assumed the responsibility of making 
a requisition upon several States most adjacent 
to the war for a large force of six-months volun- 
teers. Tennessee had been included, and Gov. 
A. V. Brown had been informally called on for 
three battalions of eight hundred men each. 
But Gov. Brown, properly distrusting the legality 
of this requisition, and feeling assured that, in 
due time, a call would be made in a more 
authentic manner, only made the request of 
Gen. Gaines the occasion to issue his proclama- 
tion of May 16th, calling upon the citizens to be 
in readiness to meet the anticipated call from the 
War Department. 

This proclamation called forth all that spirit 
of chivalry for which Tennessee isso justly famed. 
Every town and village was roused by "the 
shrill fife and spirit-stirring drum ;" the hill-tops 
and the mountains poured down their thousands 
—the plains and the vallies were teeming with 



60 BEMINfSCENCES OF A 

men, and companies were filled up so fast that it 
soon became difficult even to purchase a place in 
the ranks. I, too, had imbibed this patriotic 
fever; yet with me the life of a soldier had 
always been linked with peculiar associations, 
and war had been clothed in a kind of romance, 
which oft-recited tales ot hardships and priva- 
tions had not wholly sufficed to dissipate. I had 
a strange hankering to see a battle ; I longed to 
test my powers of endurance in the trials incident 
to a campaign. The tented field, the toilsome 
march, the lonely night-watch, and the battle 
field, all had charms for me. Add to this a long 
cherished desire to visit Mexico, the scene of 
Cortes' conquests; and it was but natural that I 
should hail with delight so favorable an oppor- 
tunity to gratify at once my patriotism and my 
curiosity. The temptation was too strong to re- 
sist — so with hosts of others, I hastened at the 
first rumor of war to take up the step, with 
proud heart, after the martial music with which 
the streets of our fair capital resounded. 

As had been anticipated, but a few days 
elapsed before the government requisition ar- 
rived, and Governor Brown, in his proclamation 
of May 26th, by order of the War Department, 
called for three full regiments, two of infantry 
and one of cavalry — numbering in all, twenty- 
eight hundred men — to serve for twelve months, 
if not sooner discharged. As the former pro- 
clamation had been met with such enthusiasm 
in every part of the State, it required no moder- 
ate degree of penetration to discover and suggest 
the most politic and satisfactory method of levy- 
ing the requisition ; but Governor Brown adopted 
the most judicious course, the then opinion of 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. ^1 

many to the contrary notwithstanding, and equal- 
ly apportioned the levies among the four itiilitary 
divisions of the State. 

The "Old Volunteer State," true to her sobri- 
quet, at this time presented a novel aspect in the 
history of nations ; her patriotic sons had throng- 
ed so thickly to her standard that they more than 
ten times outnumbered the requisition: instead 
of three, nearly thirty thousand volunteers re- 
ported themselves ready for the service ; and so 
eagerly emulous were all of the honor of serving 
her, that none 'could be persuaded to yield that 
privilege to others. In this situation, it became 
necessary to adopt some mode of choice. With 
proper provisions and restrictions, the ballot was 
resorted to as the most equitable and satisfactory 
method. Had the crowned heads of Europe 
witnessed the strong exhibition of feeling which 
this singular contest displayed — had they seen 
the painful earnestness'with which the aspirants 
watched the issue of this novel ele*ction— had 
they marked the zeal with which freemen de- 
voted themselves to their country — th^y would 
have felt their power waning before the Spartans 
of the West, and their thrones beneath them 
would have tottered to their very foundations. 
It was, indeed, a strange spectacle to behold men 
thus wrestling*for a post so fraught with danger, 
suffering and death : yet, Tennessee presented 
even such a picture ; and it was certainly the 
highest encomium upon our republican institu- 
tions to see our citizens evince, at so trying a 
juncture, so commendable a spirit of patriotism. 

I can state, in all candor, that I never observed 
more marked chagrin and disappointment than 
was manifested by those who were so unfortu- 
nate [?] as to be rejected. 



62 REMINISCENCES OP A 

As soon as it was decided what companies 
were chosen, they were immediately notified of 
the fact by express, and ordered to march, with- 
out delaj^ to the place of rendezvous, where the 
Governor had appointed the proper officers to 
muster them into the service of the United 
States. 

As most of the companies had been raised 
under the first proclamation, which had been 
accompanied by General Gaines' request, the 
men, upon the hint thrown out in that request, 
had volunteered with the expectation of enlisting 
for six months only, and at that time but few 
imagined that we would be in actual service 
longer than three months, while many others 
believed that peace would be concluded before 
we could reach the Rio Grande. With such im- 
pressions the men were dfawn up to be mustered 
into service, when, for the first time, the greater 
number learned that the term was twelve 
months, instead of six. It required rather elas- 
tic patriotism to meet this announcement ; but, 
as Tennesseans, we had long entertained a 
grudge against the Mexicans. We had the old 
scores of the Alamo and Goliad to cancel ; and, 
as Americans, honor required that we should aid 
to redress our country's wrongs. It deserves to 
be mentioned, that not one man murmured at 
this further extension of his term. 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 



63 



CHAPTER VI. 

Companies assemble — Election of officers — Organization of the 
Regiment-^Staff appointments-^Presentation and reception 
of the "Eagle Banner Blue "—Reflections— 'Preparations foJf 
departure. 

Pursuant to a general order, the following com- 
panies had, by the first ot June, arrived at the 
rendezvous near Nashville, to wit : 
Capt. Cheatham, 
Foster, 
Anderson, 
Bennet, 

Smith 



Davidson county, 

« 

Sumner 



Mc Murray, 

Walton, 

Northcutt, 

Mauldin, 

Frierson, 

Buchanan, 

Whitfield, 

Alexander, 



Warren 

Marshall 

Bedford 

Lincoln, 

Hickman 

Lawrence 

The companies were encamped at Camp Tay- 
lor, two miles below Nashville, where every 
arrangement had been made for their comfort 
by the Governor and his officers. 

By the 3rd of June, all the companies had 
been mustered into service, and had drawn the 
arms and accoutrements requisite for infantry. 
As it was expedient to forward the troops to 
the seat of war with all possible despatch. Gov* 
Brown determined to draught the twelve com- 
panies then assembled into one regiment, there- 
by causing a deficiency of two companies in the 
other regiment of infantry which he had called 



64 REMiNlSCfiNCES Of A 

out. This course, which called forth the severest 
strictures, subsequently proved to be the wisest 
policy. The Governor, therefore, issued an or- 
der commanding us to proceed to the election of 
our field officers ; and on account of the two 
supernumerary companies he authorized us to 
elect an additional Major. In obedience to the 
order, we proceeded, on the morning of June 3d, to 
elect the officers proper to the formation of the 
regiment. After an election conducted with the 
utmost consonance and good feeling, the regi- 
ment was organized as the 1st Regiment of 
Tennessee Volunteers, with the following 
officers: 

W. B. Campbell, of >Smith county, Colonel. 

Capt. S^ R. Anderson, of Sumner county, Lt. 
Colonel. 

R. Alexander, of Sumner, and Robert Farqu= 
harson, of Lincoln, Majors. 

W. M. Blackmore was elected Captain, to 
fill the vacancy caused by the election of Capt. 
Anderson Lieutenant Colonel. 

Colonel Campbell then appointed the follow- 
ing gentlemen to fill his staft^, to wit: A. Heiman 
to be Adjutant; W. B. Allen, Sergeant Major; 
Dr. McPhail, Surgeon ; W. D. Dorris and F. J. 
Robertson, Assistant Surgeons ; G. V. Hebb, 
Assistant, Quartermaster. 

The regiment being now fully organized, in 
the evening of June 3rd we were marched from 
our camp into the city, in full array, for the pur- 
pose of receiving a flag which had been prepared 
for us by the young ladies of the Female Acad- 
emy. Our noble regiment, numbering more 
than a thousand men, fully armed and equipped, 
presented a magnificent appearance, as they 
marched in column to the Academy, with drums 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 65 

beating and bayonets lixed. It was a novel 
sight to our good citizens to see so many men all 
harnessed and caparisoned for war — and as it 
was a fine, bright day, an immense assemblage 
was drawn together to witness the presentation. 
As we watched the contending emotions that 
were manifested in the countenances of this 
crowd, we saw that we occupied the first place 
in their thoughts ; and our own hearts beat high 
when we were drawn up in the presence of the 
bright array of beauty that had assembled to 
bestow on us their boon and benison. 

The banner w^as presented to the Colonel 
Commandment by the hand of Miss Irene IvI. 
Taylor, in the name of the senior class, she ac- 
companied the gift with a few beautiful and 
appropriate sentiments, when the Rev. C, D. 
Elliott, President of the Academy, arose and, 
on the part of the young ladies, made a most 
thrilling and soul-stirring address. Col. Camp- 
bell replied in behalf of the regiment, in a brief 
and characteristic speech. 

The banner was a most beautiful one, made 
of fine silk, and it bore for its device an eagle on 
an azure field, with beneath the motto, " Weep- 
ing in solitude for the fallen brave is better than 
the presence of men too timid to strike for their 
country." When this "Eagle Banner Blue" 
w^as committed to the charge of the regiment, 
we made the welkin ring with " three times 
three " for the fair donors. 

It w^as a proud day for Tennessee ! Here 
w^ere her fairest daughters assembled in all the 
purity of maidenhood, to express in the strong- 
est, yet most delicate manner, that deep sense 
which they entertained for the justice of our 
cause, and to signify their high esteem of that 



66 REMINISCENCES OF A 

patriotism that had clothed us in the costume of 
war. They had met to yield that tribute which 
virtue is ever ready to pay to worth and valor ; 
and with that same spirit that actuated the wo- 
men of ancient Sparta, they had come to send 
their friends and brothers forth to battle, with 
the promise of praise to the brave and threats of 
infamy for him who faltered. Here, too were a 
thousand of Tennessee's chosen sons, who had, 
but a short time, before been reposing in the 
quietude of their homes, when they were start- 
led by the news of war. The mechanic dropped 
his tools; the farmer left his plough in the fur- 
row ; the salesman left his wares unsold ; the 
student laid aside his books ; and all with one 
accord had offered themselves to their common 
country ; and in the short space of one week 
since the call had been issued, they had gather- 
ed from every part of a wide spread and exten- 
sive district of country, with that alacrity which 
is ever the sure guaranty of bravery ; and they 
had now come to place upon their escutcheon 
that incentive which beauty lends to valor. 

We saw that the eyes of thousands were upon 
us ; some of the veterans who had fought under 
Jackson, were beholding us with pride and pleas- 
ure, and we knew that they expected us to sus- 
tain that reputation which they had won for our 
proud State. This was no easy task, and we 
never felt till then so forcibly impressed with the 
terrible responsibility we had voluntarily assum- 
ed. But when we saw with what confidence ev- 
ery one looked upon us, it stimulated our hearts 
to keep pace with our increasing sense of re- 
sponsibility, and we were not loth to emulate 
the deeds of our fathers. But the hero of the 
Hermitage, who had so often led the sons of 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 67 

Tennessee to victory, was gone, and it remained 
for the trying hour of battle to reveal him upon 
whom his mantle had descended. 

The occasion offered a thousand incentives to 
courage. It was the time for making high re- 
solves, and that man was little to be envied 
whose heart, from that moment, did not imbibe a 
new and unflagging courage. The "Eagle Ban- 
ner Blue" was to us an earnest that our fair 
donors had their warmest sympathies enlisted in 
our behalf. It was a pledge that we would not 
be forgotten ; and it nerved us for every fate, to 
read in the beauty before us, the silent promise 
that while we were far off", encountering the per- 
ils of war, that the righteous intercession from 
the lips of innocence would go often up to the 
God of battles in our behalf. He whose heart 
did not throb with a stronger pulse under the in- 
fluence of this scene — he whose blood did not 
flow to the measure of such mute eloquence — 
was recreant to the common feelings of humanity. 

Having terminated the ceremony of present- 
ation, Adjutant General R. B. Turner arose and 
read the Governor's letter of instruction to Col. 
Campbell, in which he resigned the command of 
the regiment as Executive of the State, and sur- 
rendered it to the United States. Gen. Turner, 
then made an eloquent and patriotic address to 
the volunteers . After which we returned in order 
to our encampment, and began to make all the 
necessary arrangements for departure. 



REMINISCENCES OF A 



CHAPTER VII. 
Embarcation — Departure of the several detachments — Arrival 
in New Orleans — Go into quarters — Prepare to embark — 
Discipline and its consequences — Go aboard ship — The sea 
— Nausea and its effects — Loafhsome scenes — Sea-sickness 
abates — Amusements — Menagerical concert — Reach and an- 
chor off Brazrs — Col. Harney wrecked while debarking' his 
troops — Storm arises — Unpleasant^. and perilous situation — 
Storm subsides — Berth aboard ship and its comforts — Disem- 
bark and the remarks of the men thereon — Rejoin those al- 
ready on shore. 

Boats had been chartered by the Governor as 
transports to New Orleans, and on the 4th of 
June the first detachment, comprising the com- 
panies of Captains Blackr^ore, Cheatham, and 
Foster, under the commandl of Lieutenant Col. 
Anderson, embarked on the transport C. Connor. 
The entire wharf was crowded with thousands 
who had assembled to witness our embarcation. 
Many had come through mere curiosity, but 
more had come to bid us a solemn farewell. 

This was the hour that tried us more than 
battle. We looked upon the congregated thou- 
sands, and they w^ore a melancholy aspect. There 
were fathers, come to bestow their parting bless- 
ings on their sons, and bid them a long adieu ; 
there were mothers, clinging to their sons with all 
the agony of an eternal parting ; there were sis- 
ters and brothers, bidding their last farewell; 
while all around were relatives and friends who, 
with drenching eyes, gave the parting hand with 
utterance too choked with stifled eobs to say 
fareVi-ell. This was no pageantry — it was no 
mimic show oi feeling, hut it was thefir^t stern 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 60 

lesson that the soldier had to learn. We were 
about to cut loose from home and friends, to 
which we had been so long accustomed, for un- 
tried sufferance and perils. We summoned to 
our aid all our fortitude ; but stoicism was of no 
avail — -a thousand varied thoughts thronged on 
us, a thousand memories ro^e up, and the flood 
of emotions so overwhelmed us that tears suf- 
fused many an eye that had long been seared 
to^4he lachrymal ebullitions of grief; many a 
stout heart blushed as he brushed away the tear 
that treacherously betrayed the feelings he would 
fain have hid. After enduring for half an hour. 
this painful scene, the boat at length moved 
majestically from the shore, amidst the roars of 
cannon paid the commingled shouts, tears, and 
prayers of the multitude, while many a fond 
parent, loath tb leave, lingered to catch a last 
glimpse of his son, ere the fast receding boat hid 
him fi'om view. As the shouts grew fainter in 
the distance, and while yet the waving of the 
handkerchiefs was discernible, w^e sent back a 
loud "three times three" for those we left behind. 
Passing camp Taylor under a salute, we pro- 
ceeded on our voyage in fine spirits. On the 
4th, four other companies, under command of 
Major Farquharson, embarked on the steamer 
Talleyrand, amidst the same manifestations of 
feeling that had been shown to those who left the 
day before. On the 5th, the five remaining 
companies, under Col. Campbell and Major Al- 
exander, proceeded on board the steamboat Ten- 
nessee and followed us to New Orleans. 

It is but just to mention the promptitude and 
alacrity which Governor Brown displayed in his 
whole connection with these troops. The troops 
had been raised and organized in an incredibly 



70 REMINISCENCES OF A 

short space of time, yet the Governor had fore- 
seen and provided for their wants even in the 
minutest particular. As the raising of the troops 
had been an unexpected contingency, the Gov- 
ernment had made no provision for the payment 
of commutation money to the soldiers ; Governor 
Brown to remedy this deficiency ordered the 
troops to be paid twenty-five dollars each, as 
commutation money, from the State Treasury. 
The moment they were ready to embark, the 
necessary transports and provisions were ready 
to receive them. Such energy is always com- 
mendable in a public ofiicer, and justly so in 
Gov. A. V. Brown. 

Our passage to New Orleans w^as not marked 
by either incident or accident worthy of relation. 
Wherever we passed, the greatest enthusiasm 
seemed to prevail, and we were saluted with 
the roar of cannon at every considerable town 
upon the route. The several detachments ar- 
rived at New Orleans on the 11th, 12th, and 13th 
of June, all in fine spirits and good health. The 
first detachment, to which I belonged, reached 
the city on the morning of the 11th, and, land- 
ing, we marched in fine order through the streets 
of the city, until we arrived in front of the St. 
Charles Hotel, where we halted and presented 
arms to Gen. Gaines, who was standing in the 
porch ready to receive us. After performing a 
variety of complicated evolutions, we returned 
to the boat, and were carried two miles below 
the city, where we were quartered in a large 
warehouse prepared for the purpose. It made 
every heart among us swell with pride and exul- 
tation to see with what enthusiasm and kind 
manifestations the sons of the heroes of Chal- 
mette were received in that city whose "booty 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 71 

and beauty" their sires had defended so nobly 
from the ruthless hand of the British invader. 

The other detachments, as they successively 
arrived, were likewise quartered in the ware- 
house, provided by the Quarter Master at New 
Orleans. 

The day after our arrival in the city, we began 
to make active preparations to embark for the 
seat of war; and having drawn our knapsacks, 
haversacks, canteens, and the necessary camp 
equippage, we received orders to hold ourselves 
in readiness to embark at an hour's notice. 

Owing to this order it became necessary to 
adopt a rigid discipline, in order to keep the men 
in their quarters ; therefore, guards were posted, 
and only a few at a time were allowed to visit 
the city. But, notwithstanding every precaution, 
some of the men would scale the walls, and, 
either by collusion or evasion, pass the sentries, 
and would in a short time be found luxuriating 
on the lickerish dainties of the St. Charles and 
Verandah — where they sipped their juleps and 
cobblers with a gusto that gave full assurance 
that they were the last they expected to drink 
for some time to come. The guard-house was 
soon filled with martyrs to this course ; and, as 
a still more rigid system of discipline was the 
consequence, it was really amusing to witness 
the artifice and finesse employed to pass the 
guard. As officers had free ingress, egress, and 
regress, and likewise the power of permitting a 
limited number of men to pass out, every offi- 
cer's extra uniform was secretly obtained and 
appropriated to the use of certain privates, 
who, taking advantage of the prerogative of 
their exterior, would assemble their friends, and 
approaching the guard, pronounce the "Guard, 



7'2 REMINISCENCES OF A 

let those men pass," with as much effrontery as 
though they were the highest officers in the re- 
giment. Notwithstanding the rather too fre- 
quent potations of some of our men, they had 
the good sense to conduct themselves with the 
utmost propriety ; and on our departure we re- 
ceived the highest encomiums from the city pa- 
pers for our orderly conduct while in the city. 
Although our quarters were large and commo- 
dious, yet the confinement during the day was 
extremely irksome ; and at night, the countless 
thousands of blood thirsty musqnetoes that stood 
unbidden sentries in our quarters, precluded all 
possibility of rest ; for, if perchance we dropped 
into a doze, the sundry twitchings and gesticula- 
tions we performed were significant of anything 
else than pleasant dreams. This, with the sus- 
pense and disappointment consequent upon the 
constant postponement of our departure to sev- 
eral successive days, rendered the men somewhat 
dissatisfied and impatient. All were burning 
with ardor to join Gen. Taylor, and they now 
longed for a change of situation, although the 
prospects for making a change for the better 
were far from flattering, as there had been but 
three vessels chartered to transport us. When, 
therefore, we were ordered, on the 17th, to pre- 
pare to embark that evening, the men promptly 
and willingly obeyed the order, and in a short 
time announced every thing as ready. We 
marched on board the vessels, which were lying 
at the goA^ernment wharf near our barracks, as 
follows : five companies under the command of 
Col. Campbell and Maj. Farquharson, on board 
the barque Chapin ; five companies under Lieut. 
Col. Anderson, on the ship Charlotte ; and two 
companies under Maj. Alexander, on the small 
bng Orleans. 



CAMPAIGN m MEXICO. 



vs 



The health of the regiment at this time was 
good beyond expectation ; we had lost but one 
man, who had died from the imprudent use of 
ice water; and, on embarking, we found but 
two men were sick enough to be left at the hos- 
pital. At sundown we cleared the quay, and 
were towed down to the Balize, which we reached 
the next morning; and we remained there till 
midday, when a light breeze springing up, we 
weighed anchor, and with sails all set and bend- 
ing spars, launched forth upon the Gulf. As 
but an extremely small portion of the men had 
ever before been at sea, this mode of traveling 
was entirely new to all the others, and they 
could not restrain their expressions of admira- 
tion at the beautiful manner in which the vessel 
glided through the waters, and at the boundless 
view of the sea. This w^as while we were pass- 
ing through the muddy tinge which the Missis- 
sippi imparts for many miles to the waters of 
the Gulf Scarcely had we made the transition 
from the muddy to the blue water, ere the scene 
was changed : the breeze freshened up, and the 
waves began to swell and roll rather too high 
for the perfect equilibrium of the land lubbers, 
whose centres of gravity beginning to oscillate 
with the lurches of the ship, soon induced a 
nausea that, for the present, altered their terms 
of admiration into those of disgust. 

This afforded great merriment to the sailors, 
but it was to us the commencement of such 
suffering as I hope never again to witness. 

On coming aboard we had all observed the 
crowded state of the vessel, but it was not until 
we had fairly put to sea that we became fully 
aware of the manner in which we had been 
packed away. There were five hundred of us 
4 



74 BEMINISCENCES OF A 

including men, officers and crew, stowed away 
on a vessel so small that it was found, by actual 
measurement and computation, there was not 
room enough above and below for all the men 
to lie down. So soon as the nausea commenced, 
nearly every man was affected and a more loath- 
some and disgusting scene could not be conceiv- 
ed than that which presented itself. As it had 
rained nightly, the lower deck had been from the 
beginning crowded to suffocation — and, as it 
was necessary to keep open a gangway in order 
to work the sails, those on the upper deck had 
been crowded into a very small space : but now 
the men were literally piled upon one another, 
like sheep in the shambles. Those above, though 
drenched with rain and trampled on, were too 
w^eakto get below, and those below were totally 
unable to go above; anl thus they lay, unable 
to move from their positions until, like swine, 
they were sweltering in their own filth. But I 
forbear to tax my readers with a farther detail 
of this scene, since to one who has never wit- 
nessed such, the p^n cannot give the faintest 
conception. Our water had become intolerable 
from having been put in improper casks ; and 
had it not been for a fortunate suggestion of 
Capt. Cheatham, which provided us with ice, 
our sufferings might have been still fm-ther 
heightened. The brutal treatment of the com- 
mander of the vessel towards us deserves to be 
held up to the execration of every Tennesseean. 
I know not who is to blame for having 
crowded us together in such a manner, yet I 
well remember that curses were bestowed with 
I know not how much justice, rather profusely 
upon the head of the United States Quarter- 
master at New Orleans. These scenes contin- 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 75 

ued for three days, when the sea sickness began 
to disappear, and the men soon recovered their 
spirits and learned to put on their sea legs, and 
we began again to admire the beauties of the 
sea. Numbers of sharks and porpoises were 
hovering around the vessel, and ever and anon, 
as they would protrude their huge black fins 
above the water, they provoked a shower of 
missile brick bats, which, tumbling about their 
heads, drove them into their briny depths. Oc- 
casionally our vessel would dash into a shoal of 
flying-fish, and scores of the little fin-winged 
tribe would rise from under our bows and dash 
off from wave to wave, until beyond our course ; 
and when the waves were down, hundreds of 
nautilli would spread their tiny sails and scud off 
before the breeze. When night came, it was a 
pleasure to lean over the bows, or mount the 
jib-boom, and as our ship ploughed through the 
waves, watch them break upon her stern and roll 
off in a flood of living light. * 
. Various amusements were now resorted to 
during the day, but at night we were invariably 
entertained by a menagerical concert, something 
rich and unique, being nothing less than a vocal 
imitation of every animal that is capable of 
uttering a discordant sound; and, it is but justice 
to say, that the imitators beat the originals them- 



* The phosphorescence of the sea, has long been a subject of 
wonder and admiration. Being on the Gulf, near the mouth of 
Atchafalaya, in 1843, I had an opportunity of examining into the 
cause of this remarkable phenomenon; and, after several experi- 
ments, I found that the phosphorescent appearance was owing to 
a kind of marine glow worm which emittted a light wherever 
the ambient water was violently agitated. These animals were 
gpherical-shaped, and somewhat larger than a marble, though, 
from their being perfectly transparent, except a few opaque, 
longitudinal striations, they were ditKcult to be seen in the water- 



7B IIEMINISCEXCES OF A 

• 

selves. Pigs, cats, dogs, sheep, bulls and jack- 
asses, found successful mimicks on deck—while 
cocks, owls, &c., would have been put to shame 
by the efforts of those " roosting" aloft In the 
shrouds. Surely such another squealing, mew- 
ing, barking bleating, braying, crowing, and 
hooting, was never heard on sea before, since 
the time of Noah's ark. 

In this manner, we whiled away the time 
aboard ship, and on the morning of the 23d of 
June, hove in sight of Brazos Saint lago, and 
anchored some two miles off the bar. We im- 
mediately ran up our signals, but no attention 
was paid to us until late the next day, when the 
government steamer Col. Harney came out and 
succeeded in taking off Col. Campbell, with two 
companies, from the Chapin ; but as she attempt- 
ed to recross the bar, she stranded, and as every 
effort on the part of the crew to get her off was 
unavailing, signals of distress were hoisted, but 
were unheeded, and those on board were left 
during the night in imminent peril, as the vessel 
had bilged, and a heavy sea would have torn 
her to pif ces. But, as the night was unusually 
calm, no accident occurred, and the next day, 
the 24th, the Aionmouth relieved the troops from 
the vessel, and also debarked the troops from the 
brig and a portion of those from the Charlotte. 

It seemed, however, that we were ill-star'd 
for this voyage, for during the night a strong 
wind !"prung up and towards morning it was 
near blowing a perfect gale. This effectually 
barred all hope of getting ashore for several 
days. As the wind increased in violence, and 
the rain poured in torrents upon the decks, our 
situation had become extremely unpleasant, and 
even perilous. At one lime, during a severe 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 77 

# 

night, our vessel drafrged her anchors and was 
rapidly drifting towards a beach already lined 
with wrecks. We were holding our breath to 
awaig the issue, when our last anchor was put 
out and she fortunately brought up. 

After continuing three days, the storm began 
to abate, but it required several days for the sea 
to run down, and the vessel still rolled terribly 
in the trough of the sea. During this tempestu- 
ous weather, the men had become exceedingly 
querulous and refractory, and Lieut. Col. Ander- 
son merits great credit for the manner in which 
he quieted the men and maintained order under 
such discouraging circumstances. For my own 
part, I fared passing well, as I had early secured 
a position on the upper deck, right amid ship, 
and on that spot which the sailors call "no man's 
land;" though it was rather a rough berth on old 
sheaves, shivers, cat-hooks, and cordage; yet, by 
dint of kicks and cuffs, 1 maintained my post, 
mauger wnnd and rain, and I could lie there 
ensconced quietly beneath my blanket, and listen 
to the rain patter on my covering, and the yards 
creak and crack as the wind whistled through 
the rigging, while the loud surf swelled up the 
wild diapason as the breakers rolled back from 
the shore; and I could watch the billows roll 
past in regular rotation as the beptk of the ship 
would describe sixty feet quadrants. 1 cast 
many a wistful look towards the land, but from 
my proximity to the "cook house," I know not 
which tantalized me, most the sight of the land 
or the savory fumes of the cook's equally un- 
approachable viands. 

On the morning of the 30th, we were aroused 
by the welcome cry, "there comes the steamer," 
and but a short time elapsed ere we were once 



78 REMINISCENCES OF A 

again on terra firma. As the pale and emacia- 
ted wretches staggered ashore, they vented, in 
no nrieasured terms, their utter execration of the 
sea. They had expected hardships innuj||era- 
ble upon land, but the miseries of a sea voyage 
had never entered into their calculations; they 
had expected to see the "elephant," but this 
view of the *' sea-serpent" satisfied them. And 
with such horror had this, their first essay on 
"the boundless deep," inspired them, that one 
could not sing in their hearing for months after- 
wards, 

"Rock'd in the cradle of the deep," 

without producing in them a sympathetic nausea. 
Having rejoined our friends, we found that 
they too had had their share of trouble, as the 
island had been completely under water during 
the rain. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Military encampment — Mexicans — The harbor at Brazos — ^Brazos 
Sant lago — Its air of sterility — Its ancient name — The island 
once inundated by the sea — Mode of obtaining water — Fare 
and amusements — Night alarm — Fourth of July — Marching 
orders — Leave for thu Rio Grande — Mouth of the Rio Grande 
— Disappointment — Description of the Rio Grande — Its force 
of current — Its turbidity, and the mode of clarifying it — Em- 
bark for Lomito — Country along the river — Burita — Arrive at 
Lomito and encamp. 

On landing at Brazos, we found several thou- 
sand troops encamped upon the island; their 
white tents afibrded a beautiful sight, as they 
were spread out over a large, level plain, and 
pitched according to the strictest rules of cas- 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 79 

It 

trametation. As our eyes ranged over the long 
lines of tents and perceived the military air 
which pervaded the v/hole scene, we began to 
feel ourselves soldiers in reality. 

As we passed the Quartermaster's depart- 
ment, we saw a good many Mexicans who were 
in the employ of the Quartermaster; as these 
were the first we had seen, they were objects of 
great curiosity to our men, who crowded around 
them and scrutinized their broad brimmed som- 
breros, leathen calsonaras, or breeches, and san- 
dals; with an earnestness rather annoying to 
the tawny, half-naked owners. 

We found the weather exceeding!}'' warm, 
though we landed early in the morning; but a 
few hours, however, intervened ere we were re- 
posing under the shade of our own tents ; but 
even these were of so flimsy a. texture as only 
partially to protect us Irom the rays of the sun 
— yet we were happy enough in having made 
any change from our uncomfortable berth aboard 
ship. 

The harbor here is formed by an estuary, 
yery narrow where it joins the sea, but as it ap- 
proaches Point Isabel, it widens into a small 
bay ; some distance above Point Isabel, it re- 
ceives the Sal Colorado. In consequence of the 
waves beating the sand into the narrow strait, 
quite an obstructive bar has been formed, and 
the channel only affords sufficient water for 
light-draught vessels to enter the harbor. Were 
it not for this obstruction this would i»e one of 
the finest and safest harbors on the whole coast; 
however, every harbor on the Western shores of 
the Gulf presents the same objection — hence the 
government wisely chose this as the most eligible 
point whereat to make a permanent lodgement* 



80 REMINISCENCES OF A 

Brazos Sant lago, which lays south -of the 
estuary, is a low, sandy island. An arm of the 
estuary makes in towards the Rio Grande, and 
by joining the Bocachiquo, or little mouth of that 
river, completely insulates Brazos. Along the 
sea coast extends a natural embankment of low 
sand ridges, which protects the island from the 
heavy seas ; while in the rear of the dyke is a 
firm, level plain, extending back for a consider- 
able distance, where it merges into an immense 
sea marsh, here and there interspersed with 
small salt lakes. Not a tree is to be seen, and 
it is not only occasionally that a single isolated 
mesquite shrub can be espied ; this, with the 
long, coarse, fusiform grass, peculiar to southern 
sea-marshes, gave the island, to us at least, an 
air of singular sterility. The island has long 
been resorted to as a port of entry, and its ancient 
name was Malahuitas. It is said once to have 
been inhabited by a population of several thous- 
and, but some years since, during a storm of un- 
precedented fury, the waves rolled through the 
channel with such force as to completely sub- 
merge the whole island and sweep away thein-. 
habitants, all of whom, save a few, perished. 
This story is related by the Mexicans with an 
air of great veracity ; yet I must confess that I 
am disposed to be rather sceptical as to its truth, 
since, beyond the few houses recently erected 
by Government, not a vestige of any habitation 
remains and scarcely a rod of the island is sus- 
ceptible of cultivation. 

The mode of obtaining water is by digging 
small wells and inserting unheaded barrels in 
the apertures, where they fill by the sea-water, 
percolating through the earth ; by this process of 
filtration through the sand the water becomes 



CAMPAmN IN MEXidO. 8l 

quite pure, though somewhat insipid and flat.— 
When we first landed, the recent rains had ren- 
dered the waters very sweet and pure ; but as 
the heat increased da-ily, the water became more 
brackish. 

During the time we remained at Brazos, the 
men, who were all in a weak state after their 
voyage, began to recuperate very fast under the 
infl'Uence of wholesome food, abundant exercise, 
and the well appreciated luxury of sea-bathing. 
With the crabs and fish, which were very 
abundant, and an occasional sheep or goat which 
we could purchase from the rancheros who were 
driving them about the island, we managed to 
fare sumptuously every day; and good fare in a 
soldier's eye is the principal ingredient of com* 
fort — feed him well, and he is contented and al* 
wa3^s ready, for any enterprise. 

While there, leading a lazy listless life in 
lolling about camp, and having nothing to disturb 
our equanimity, we were one night aroused from 
our peaceful slumbers by some one running 
through camp, crying at the top. of his voice, 
" Get up, men, for God's sake, for the Mexicans 
are charging down on us like thunder." In a 
moment, all was hubbub and confusion, the 
whole island was under arms, and it was fortu- 
nate that not a cartridge had been issued, else 
some one would have been shot in the tumult. 
Order was soon restored; to the sensible, the ab- 
surdity of the thi»g was too apparent to receive a 
moment's credence, and the affair wound up 
with a hearty laugh at the many ludicrous scenes 
which occurred. It was found that some cattle 
had been frightened, and breaking into a stam- 
pede, they dashed up to where a timid sentry 
was asleep on his post ; the poor fellow waking 
4* 



8':^ REMiNisdfiNdES or A 

up al the noise, thought the whole Mexican army 
was coming upon him. This was our first alarm, 
and those most active in causing it, among whom 
was a certain son of Esculapius, met with so 
many jeers and gibes about it, that it had a very 
salutary effect in preventing false alarms ever 
afterwards; for nothing has a more powerful 
effect upon man than ridicule. 

At sunrise, on the 4th of July, every vessel 
within and without the harbor was gaily deck- 
ed and garnished with flags and bannerets, 
while the stars and stripes floated proudly from 
every mast head. At mid-day, the men of war 
cruising off the bar lay to, and fired national 
salutes, and their thunders were retuined peal 
for peal by Fort Polk at Point Isabel 5 the several 
regiments on the island at the same time held 
grand dress parades. 

The next day being vSunda}^ all parades were 
dispensed with, and a large number of us attend^ 
ed a sermon delivered by a chaplain; this was 
the last Sabbath we kept, and the last sermon 
we heard during the campaign. 

Our regiment had been reported at head-* 
quarters soon after landing, and on the 6th, we 
received marching orders. Having procured 
the requisite number of baggage wagons, and 
having made every preparation. Col. Campbell 
with the first battalion of six companies, took 
up the line of march early on the 7th for the 
Boca de Rio Grande, ten miles 'distant, where 
Lieut. Col. Anderson, with the second battalion, 
followed the ensuing day. I accompanied Col. 
Campbell, and we pursued our march along the 
beach, near the water's edge, for five miles, 
when we reached the Boeachiquo ; which though 
very wide we waded where it was waist deep» 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 8S 

and by noon we had reached the mouth of the 
Rio Grande. Here also the government had 
erected several entrepots or store houses, these 
with a fevv suttlers' establishments and some 
half dozen miserable huts on the other side, 
comprise the only houses at Boca de Rio Grande, 

As I looked on the small stream before me for 
the first time, I could nOt repress my feelings of 
chagrin and disappointment, and 1 exclaimed: 
is this the Rio Grande and Bravo del Norte? I 
had not yet become acquainted with the thra- 
sonical character of the Mexicans, and I had yet 
to learn that the title of this river was one of the 
least of those hyperboles in which their language 
is so fruitful. From the grandiloquent name, 
therefore, I had expected to see a mighty stream; 
I had figured in my mind some counterpart to 
the Mississippi or Ohio, with its broad volume 
of water sweeping calmly and majestically on- 
ward. But what a contrast did the stream 
before me present to the one I had pictured in 
my imagination : here was a small river, scarce 
three hundred yards in width, although now 
swollen to its greatest magnitude ; but its dark, 
angry Waters were fretting and boiling like a 
cauldron, and chafed along its brim, as if strug- 
gling to burst beyond its narrow limits. 

Although greatly disappointed in the Rio 
Grande, from having formed an exaggerated 
idea of its grandeur, yet, after I came to be more 
acquainted with its character and attributes, I 
was not unwilling to acquiesce in the justness of 
its title as Bravo, or Bold river, and in this re- 
spect it is certainly a most remarkable stream. 
It is always far more turbid and turbulent than 
the Mississippi; and it is unsurpassed by any 
considerable river now knowu for the forcfe of 



84 KEMINISCENCES OP A 

its current, which is greatest as it nears its 
mouth. Like the rivers in all low countries, this 
river near its mouth has great depth of channel, 
and its strength of current is imparted not so 
much by its fall, as by the weight of water. It is 
so filled with sub-currents, and silent, surgescent 
eddies, that it is dangerous to bathe in its water* 
Were it not that nature has made it after the 
crookedest pattern, so that the water in imping- 
ing the innumerable angles and bends, breaks 
the current, it would be as impossible to navi- 
gate it as to ascend the Niagara Falls in a steam- 
boat. 

The Rio Grande has formed an almost impass- 
able bar at its mouth from its throwing out such 
a great quantity of earthy matter. It holds in 
solution at least ten per cent more earthy matter 
than the Mississippi ; yet the turbulence of the 
water is apparently not greater than the Missis- 
sippi, owing to the lighter tinge of the coloring 
matter. As the water is strongly impregnated 
with the sulphate of magnesia, it possesses at first 
considerable cathartic properties. We soon 
learned to remedy this by following the example 
of the Mexicans, who peal the leaves of the 
prickly pear and cutting it into small pieces, 
throw it into their vessels of water, when the 
acid and mucilage of the cactus very soon 
precipitate the lime, magnesia and other earthy 
matter, and leave the water quite clear and 
sweet. The distinguishing feature of the Rio 
Grande is its multitude of bends. Nature seems 
to have endeavored to supersede the necessity 
of making many rivers in this quarter by form- 
ing this on a labyrinthine system, so that as near 
as is possible it may water every portion of the 
valley it passes through. If the famed Meander 



CAMl'AICN m MEXICO^ 85 

of the ancients formed every si^moidal cure to 
be found in the letters of the Greek alphabet, 
surely the Rio Grande could with ease out crook 
the crookedest letters in the combined alphabets 
of the world, as it describes more crooks, curves, 
arcs, and angles than mathematicians ever 
dreamed of. So singularly capricious are its 
crooks and bends, that it is hard to tell where 
any one lives upon it, for frequently one's neigh- 
bor, many miles above, is actually his nearest 
neighbor below. I have seen several thousand 
acres inclosed by a fence five hundred yards 
long. 

Probably I have detained my readers already 
too long with the description of this river. They 
must, however, pardon an occasional digression 
from the threads of the general narrative. 

We found two steamboats awaiting us at the 
mouth of the river, and three companies having 
embarked on each, we were soon under way for 
Lomita, thirty miles above. The boat on which 
I was, after two hours hot steaming, tie dup at 
dark just three miles from where it started, as it 
was with great difficulty we could make any 
head-way against the currents. Pushing out 
early the next morning, we moved along more 
easily; yet occasionally, in rounding some point, 
.the boat would sheer, and by opposing a greater 
breadth of keel to the current, we would be 
swept downwards W'ith such a rapidity that it 
would take half an hour to regain our position. 

The country at the mouth has much the ap- 
pearance of the lower Mississippi, although it is 
in a perfectly primitive and uncultivated state, 
and barren, with the exception of the above- 
mentioned sea-grass and a few sparsely scattered 
bunches of low mesquite bushes. As you pro- 



86 REMINISCENCES Of A 

ceed higher up, the appearance of the country 
improves — low hills here and there, crowned 
with mesquite ten or fifteen feet in height, may be 
seen, and occasionally these low ranges of hil- 
locks skirled viih chaparral, apfiroach the river, 
making perpendicular clay bluffs some twenty or 
thirty iVet high. A few badly cultivated corn 
fields, here and there, presented themselves; but 
wish the exception of a lew houses at the mouth, 
we found no houses until we reached the village 
of Burita, famous, as its name indicates, for its 
breed of little jackasses. 

Burita, twenty-five miles from the mouth, con- 
tains some fifty houses, built of stakes or reeds 
and plastered inside and out with mud ; while 
the roofs are thatched with grass or fodder. 
Here we found four or five regiments enc tmped. 

After having repeatedly boxed all the points 
of the compass, and having wound through the 
serpentine intricacies of the intricate tortuosities 
of the tortuous zigzags of this most superlatively- 
crooked river, we at last reached Lomita, or the 
little hills, wnere we made a permanent encamp- 
ment. The second battalion, under Lt. Colonel 
Anderson, remained at the mouth under drill, and 
did not join us at Lomita for ten days after our 
arrival there. 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. St 



CHAPTER IX. 

Lomita and the adjacent Country — Cactuses — Mexican Ox CartSj 
with their Teams and Drivers — Warm Weather — Flies and 
Mosquitoes — Measles— Rain and mud — Rumors and Rumor- 
makers — Mexicans, their mercenary character—Horses and 
Mules the property on the Rio Grande — Manner of selling and 
breaking Mules — TheCabrista ai;d Uses — Feats with the Cab- 
rista — Court Martial — ^"Rogue's March" — Fandangoes — Hunt 
after a Fandango — Mexican sport in throwing bulls — Camp at 
night—Gaming — "Old Sledge" — "Chuckle luck"— Faro- 
Concert — Camp Meeting songs — Dancing — Ethiopian Seren- 
ades — Tattoo — Noises of the night. 

We found Lomita a small, bare hill, some eight 
acres in extent^ and rising up twenty or thirty 
feet above the surrounding low lands; these were 
partly covered by several bright, clear lagoons, 
whose sedgy margins afforded covert to myriads 
of wild fowl. The hill itself was crowned by 
several mud-daubed jacales, or cabins, with 
thatched roofs, and, like all the houses of the 
the farmers or rancheros and the lower class of 
city population in Mexico, were without any 
other than earth floors. 

Our camp was at first an extremely pleasant 
one, and to those who were fond of nature's 
beauties, the locality was one of peculiar inter- 
est, as the rich alluvium along the river was 
gayly garnished with innumerable wild flowers, 
among which were twenty varieties of the cac- 
tusthrustingup theirprickly heads: one of which 
was a most beautiful night blooming cactus. 
The spot afforded every requisite for a fine en- 
campment with the single exception of the article 



S8 HfiMlNISdENCfiS of A 

of wood, which we had to bring from a distatice 
of three miles. To perform this duty we drafted 
into service several Mexican ox carts, or caratas, 
with their teams and drivers* These caratas, 
like every thing else Mexican, are of the rudest 
workmanship, and of the most primitive pattern 
— somewhat resembling a rough, Dutch truck- 
wheel waggon of two centuries back, but they 
have not an ounce of iron used in their con- 
struction, and the modern appendage of hounds 
for the tongue, and moulding and boxing for the 
w^heels and axle, are things the Mexicans never 
dreamed of. The wheel consists of three broad 
pieces of timber bound together by cross pieces 
and hewn into a circular shape — the centre 
piece has near its centre a bulge as a nave which 
is pierced for the axle ; the tongue is inserted 
into the axle through a mortice, and the body is 
formed of cowhides, whipped together by thongs 
of the same material over a rough frame work of 
wood. The yoke is fastened just behind the 
horns of the ox and secured by broad strips of 
raw hide, extending across his forehead : thus 
the oxen are compelled to thrust the load along 
by their horns and foreheads. The drivers, for 
there is usually one for every ox, are armed with 
a long pole with a goad in one end, and march 
along on either side of the team, where, by dint 
of a deal of coaxing, goading, and a multitude of 
oaths, they manage to haul nearly half as much 
as could be drawn by the same team on a good 
Yankee ox-cart. 

The weather was quite warm, and the ther- 
mometer ranged as high as 100*, but the greatest 
heat was from sunrise until ten o'clock in the 
morning, when a light sea-breeze would spring 
up and so far cool the atmosphere as to render 



% 

CAMPAIGN m MEXICO. Sff 

the remainder of the day quite pleasant. We 
soon began to be annoyed by flies, the usual con- 
comitants of camps, swarming in such countless 
numbers, that it was with difficulty we could eat 
without partaking of them also, and the *' night 
fowls," as our men facetiously termed the mos- 
quitoes, were of such an enormous size that 
some of our gamesters spoke of crossing them 
with game cocks, in order to give the latter good 
bill hold. 

The measles now broke out in fcamp, and many 
cases proved fatal, from the patients 1} ing on the 
wet ground. It w^as now the rainy season, 
and we would occasionally have a week's rain, 
when the beauty of our camp would disappear in 
a quagmire knee-deep, into which the soft clayey 
soil was so susceptible of being trampled ; yet, 
when the sun would again appear, the soil would 
dry even with more facility than it became wet. 

A camp is certainly the native element of 
rumors — at least, nowhere do rumors flourish 
so well as in an army, where the human mind is 
ready to give credence to any tale, how^ever 
fabulous, and is therefore most susceptible of 
being played on by an artful tale-teller. Hence 
there are always a class who make it their pro- 
fession to pander to this appetite by concocting 
and propagating daily new reports. They thus 
keep the camp constantly replete with rumors 
more or less plausible, to suit the credulity of 
customers, and one may expect as certainly to 
hear some new tale each morning as he is to 
hear the reveille. These camp oracles attain a 
great proficiency in their art, and as they invent 
such tales as usually please, they are a benefit 
rather than an injury to an army, as they keep 
the men in fine spirits and in a state of constant 



90 REMINISCENCES OF A 

excitement, and excitement is the life of a 
soldier. 

While at Lomita, our camp was constantly- 
thronged wilh Mexicans, who brought in great 
abundance various articles of food for sale, such 
as cornbread, tortillas, milk, melons, &c., which 
were eagerly purchased by our men, though at 
exorbitant prices. It was not a little astonish- 
ing to us to find that we could purchase from a 
ranchero a sheep or goat for three dollars, while 
we could buy the horse from under him for two. 
Waddy Thompson says that "no people are 
more liberal in their expenditure of money" 
than the Mexicans. I presume he refers to the 
upper classes, for the lower and middle classes 
possess a mercenary character that is little com- 
patible with a true spirit of liberality. They 
will sell anything they possess, even to their cross, 
or the rosary about their necks, to which is some 
holy passage of scripture, which the priest 
has blessed, purified and sewed in a small bag 
as an amulet. I have seen them sell the horses 
from under them, and pack the saddle home 
on their backs to the distance of fifteen or twenty 
miles. I have also seen them dispose of their 
only blankets, their last grain of corn, and. evqn 
strip ofi' their breeches and sell them. Yet, they 
are as good as Yankees on a trade, and know 
how to drive a close bargain. They will fre- 
quently stickle for an hour on a quartillo, or a 
quarter bit. 

A good mule is considered far more valuable 
than a horse, and will sell for ten or fifteen dol- 
lars, when a horse will only bring six or eight; 
but the horses are usually small and almost use- 
less, while the mules will bear a favorable 
comparison with those raised in the western 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 91 

States. It Is not a little singular, that the hybrid 
in Mexico is usually much larger than either the 
sire or dam. Along the lower Rio Grande, the 
principal property of a ranchero consists in his 
herds of cattle and droves of mules and horses — 
these roam with unrestricted freedom over the 
whole country, and driven up, only to be sold or 
marked, not with the initials, but the private 
brand of the owner, which usually consists of 
some large, unseemly figure, resembling Phoe- 
nician or Chinese character, and greatly disfig- 
ures the horse. This would injure the value of 
a fine horse with an American, but a Mexican 
would think a horse unfit to ride until one hip 
or shoulder was covered with a large brand. 
Probable this fashion has, like many others, 
arisen from neces>ity ; for honor and honesty are 
at such a low ebb in Mexico, that a man's oath 
is not regarded by the Alcaldes-, and the only 
way a horse can be identified, when he has been 
stolen, is by the owner's producing his brand- 
ing iron, and proving thereby his mark. 

Several hundred mules and horses are fre- 
quently seen in one drove, and they are invariably 
preceded by some antiquated mother of the 
drove, who has been constitutred by the owner 
sponsor or superior of the drove, and in recog- 
nition of her duty, she wears the badge of office 
in the shape of a bell. Whenever a ranchero 
finds a purchaser, he procures the aid of one or 
two neighbors : mounting their horses, and arm- 
ed with long quartas or rawhide whips, and 
their constant companion, the cahrista, or lariat 
of horse hair, they set out in search of the 
drove: as soon as they have come up with it, 
they lariat the bell mare, and lead her into a 
coralfOv enclosure of strong stakes, into which 



92 RE>nNISCENCES OF A 

the rest are driven. When they are once in 
the pound, the purchaser chooses and points out 
some animal, the rancheros soon throw the 
cabrista over his head, and dri vin;^,- out the others, 
they proceed to break the animal, which rears, 
kicks, bites, and plunges as only a wild mule can. 
If the mul ' is unusually refractory the cabrista 
is applied to every limb, and he is thrown down 
and whipped into subjection ; when completely 
subdued, a blind is placed over his eyes, and by a 
milder system of coaxing and currying, he is suf- 
ficiently tamed to be put to immediate work. 
This process seldom occupies more than two 
hours, and so effectually is the mule tamed in 
that time that it is scarcely ever necessary to 
repeat the dose. 

To a ranchero, his cabrista is as indispensable 
[In article as the reboso,or scarf is to a Mexican 
female. They could do nothing without them. 
At night, the cabrista serves to tether his horse, 
or by being laid around his bed to keep off rep- 
tiles as they are said to have a singular fear of 
the horse haii rope, and will never cross it. No 
ranchero vA^ould mount his horse without having 
one coiled over the horn of his saddle; and he 
uses it for catching every thing, from a wild bull 
to a chicken. In catching cattle, or wild horses, 
they have their saddle horse so trained that the 
instant the lariat is thrown, he drops upon his 
haunches, ready to meet the shock caused b3'tho 
first plunge of the victim. I'he feats they per- 
form with these cabrisras, are almost incredible : 
they can loop any foot of an animal, while it is 
running at tuU speed. The greatest attainment 
of the art is to throw a running noose over the 
foot oi an animal when it is standing. This is 
performed by causing one part of the loop to strike 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 93 

a nerve in the pastern joint, which causes the 
animal to jerk up his loot by a quick motion 
and the noose that, instant glides under and 
secures it. This feat is performed so quick as 
fairly to puzzle the observer. 

At' Lomita, we had our first court martial, 
which was convened to try a case of larceny, 
and the prisoner was found guilty. He was 
sentenced to be drummed out of camp, and then 
dismissed sans ceremonie from the service of the 
United States. To aid my readers in imagin- 
ing how this interesting ceremony was performed, 
it may not be amiss to give a brief description 
of it. 

The day after the trial, the officers of the day 
proceeded to carry the sentence of the court into 
execution, with all due observances. At the ap- 
pointed hour, the prisoner, accompanied by a 
guard of twenty-fom- men, was brought in front 
of the Colonel's marque, where a • couple of 
stout, hale fellows were holding the culprit's 
horse, which consisted of a long, elastic pole, 
from which depended two stirrups of unequal 
length, made of ropes and rawhides; with the 
assistance, and by the gentle persuasion of a few- 
bayonets, the prisoner was mounted on the horse 
after it had been raised to the shoulders of the 
men, and the guard was formed in a hollow 
square around the prisoner with their guns low- 
ered to a charge. At the word, the music struck 
up the "'Rogue's March," and the procession 
moved off amidst the jeers, jokes, and laughter 
of the crowd. Although the rider performed 
astonishing feats of horsemanship, yet, from 
some sudden wincing of his "critter," he would 
occasionally be found describing parabolic curves 
on the ground and lofty tumbling system, greatly 



Wk REMUnSCENCES OF A 

to the merriment of those supporting him. Hav- 
ing twice made the circuit of the camp, the cul- 
prit was taken beyond the guard lines, and there 
dismissed. 

The Mexicans gave fandangoes every Satur- 
day night, and our officers and men would at- 
tend them now and then by invitation, but in 
sufficiently strong parties to overawe any treach- 
ery on the part of the Mexicans. I only at- 
tempted to attend one of these fandangoes ; it 
was eleven miles up the country, and placing 
myself under the guidance of a friend, who had 
been there before, we separated from the crowd 
that was going up : after having gone some 
fourteen miles, we found ourselves in a dense 
chapparel, having lost the road, and with not 
the remotest idea of which direction camp was 
in ; and had we needed arms, neither of us could 
have produced even a pen-knife, while scores 
of hungry wolves Avere howling in our very faces. 
After wandering about through the chapparel, 
tearing ourselves with thorns, wading marshes 
and lagoons, we at last found our road, and made 
our way back to camp, which we reached just 
before day, heartily tired of our hunt after a 
Mexican fandango. 

While on an excursion above our camp, and 
in the neighborhood of Matamoras, some few 
of us had an opportunity of witnessing a sport 
which, I believe is peculiar to the Rio Grande 
country, and is in lieu of the bull baits of the 
interior. A number of rancheros, well dressed 
and with their horses caparisoned with all their 
usual cumbersome trappings, had met together at 
a rancho, where some fifteen or twenty bulls 
had been confined in a coral or enclosure. Af- 
ter sipping freely of their mescal, smoking a 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 95 

few ciggarettos, and arranging the preliminaries, 
they mounted their horses and were drawn up 
in the road ; the bulls were now driven out. Off 
they started in a run, when the first horseman 
dashed after them at full speed, and selecting 
the largest bull, galloped up to him and stoop- 
ing lightly from his saddle, seized him by the 
tail, when, dexterously passing it under his leg, 
he suddenly wheeled his horse about, and by a 
peculiar jerk brought the bull broadside to the 
ground, a^lidst the loud cheers and plaudits of 
his compahions. Each of the other rancheros 
in turn thfen made similar attempts, but not 
always with like success, for sometimes a bull 
that had probably run the gauntlet half-a-dozen 
times before, would dash off in an oblique di- 
rection before his tail was fairly securecl under 
the rider's leg, when the ranchero would be 
lifted from the saddle and hurled hke a rocket 
into the air, while his friends laughed and jested 
him without any sympathy for his misfortune. 
Whenever on« failed in his attempt, the next 
in turn dashed off, until every bull was fairly 
thrown. 

Our camp at night presented a variety of 
scenes. Here might be seen in their tent a party 
quietly enjoying a game of ''Old Sledge," and 
as chairs, tables, (fee, are nonentities in a camp, 
they are all seated on an open blanket a la 
Turk, while a bayonet stuck in the ground serves 
as a candle-stick, and with a deck whose new- 
ness has long since been "shuffled off" in "un- 
fair dealings." In the next tent, seated in the 
same manner, and with the same furniture, is 
another party around a "chuckle luck" board, 
where the owner is rattling his dice upon his 
"lay-out" and challenging the betters to come 



98 REMTNTSCENCES OP A 

up with, "Come boys, here's the good old game 
of chuckle-luck ; the more you put down the 
less you take, up." Notwithstanding this fair 
announcement, there are always those who are 
eager to stake their hard-earned pay against 
the odds of the game ; consequently this tent is 
crowded, as is also another near by, where a 
faro-dealer is sitting with his box, bank, and 
counter before him, while every card upon his 
"spread" has its stake from the surrounding 
crowd. So prevalent is the vice of gaming in 
an army, that we will find that nearly two-thirds 
of the tents will present similar scenes ; but in 
some of the others we may find a small audi- 
ence listening to a gratuitous concert of senti- 
mental songs, while they dream of home and 
not unfi'equently drop a tear, either in response 
to the resurrected memories of by-gone days or 
as an earnest to the singer that his exertions are 
not lost upon them. In another quarter of the 
camp are some eight or ten, singing with full 
voice and spirit a number of good old camp- 
meeting songs ; while near by another party are 
dancing to the music of a cracked violin ; and 
jigs, hornpipes, cotillions, and "Old Virginny 
break downs," interspersed with extra speci- 
mens of the "pigeon wing," "wiring," &c., are 
performed with an air of ease and nonchalence 
which only such an occasion can exhibit. Yon- 
der, too, a band of Ethiopian serenaders are en- 
tertaining a crowd with songs, glees, and melo- 
dies, and for an accompaniment they have called 
into requisition a half strung fiddle, a tin pan, 
"bones," and Samson's famous weapon. 

Tattoo is beat, and the act closes ; the mirth 
and conviviality of the camp has ceased, all 
noise is hushed, the lights are out, and an air of 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 97 

quietness reigns over the whole scene — and is 
broken only by the heavy and monotonous tread 
of the sentry as he walks his weary rounds, with 
ever and anon the chalenge, "who comes there?" 
But the noise of the camp has only given place 
to the discordant concert of the thousand vocal- 
ists that tune nature's lullaby : the croaking of 
myriads of frogs is interrupted by the startled 
cry of some curlew, flushed from his sedgy cov- 
ert by some prowling fox, whose disappointed 
bark anon breaks on the ear. The loud shrill 
whistle of a locust rings on the night air,* min- 
gled with the strange loneliness of the barking 
bird, (whose note resembles the baying of a 
small dog,) these sounds with occasional con- 
certs from the packs of wolves, render the long 
watches of the night exceedingly lonesome and 
oppressive. 



* This locust I have only heard on the Rio Grande and near 
Jalapa. Though not much larger than the common locust, its 
whiss is not unlike a steam whistle, and is nearly as loud, as it 
may be heard nearly two miles. It makes its noise in fair 
weather, indiscriminately in the day or night, and as seldom 
more than one is heard at once, they must be very rare — a 
wise provision of nature, for even one, when near by, makes 
the ear tingle with its piercing whiss. 



98 REMINISCENCES OF A 



CHAPTER X. 



Organization of the 2d Regiment Tennessee Volunteers — Arri- 
val of Gen. Pillows-Embark for Camargo — Animated appear- 
ance along the line — Fertility of the country along the river 
^The soil — Its capabilities — Its productions — Scarcity of tim- 
ber — The mosquito — The Rio Grande as it is and has been — 
What it will be in the hands of the Americans— Scenery 
around Matamoras — Its peculiarities — Its appearance — Scenes 
in Matamoras— Dogs without hair— Passage up the river— Fan- 
dangoes-Towns, &c. 

The battalions from East and West Tennessee 
having arrived, they were encamped a short 
distance below us. On the 7th of August, they 
held their elections for field officers, and the 
regiment was organized as the 2d Regiment 
Tennessee Volunteers, under Col. Haskell and 
Lieut. Col. Cummings. Owing to a deficit of 
two companies in the regiment, from causes 
before mentioned, the commanding General only 
authorized the election of two field officers, Colo- 
nel and Lieut. Colonel, thereby leaving the regi- 
ment without a Major. 

General Pillow reached our camp on the 9th 
of August, having just arrived from the States ; 
he was received with great manifestations of joy 
by the regiment, and during the two days that 
he remained with us, by his abolition of our 
odious day-guard duty, his visits and kind atten- 
tions to the sick, and his courteous demeanor to 
all, he rendered himself quite a favorite with the 
regiment. 

We were on the 4th, ordered to hold ourselves 
in readiness to proceed by water to Camargo. 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 99 

All our sick and discharged were sent back to 
Point Isabel, and on the 8th the first detach- 
ment embarked forCamargo; other detachments 
subsequently followed on the 11th, 12th, 13th, 
and 15th, while the last detachment, to which I 
belonged, did not embark until the 19th. 

The whole line at this time, and for some 
weeks previously, presented a busy and anima- 
ted appearance. Gen. Taylor had issued his 
order disbanding the six month's troops on July 
21st, and these troops had been transported 
from their several encampments along the river 
to Brazos, where they were embarked for New 
Orleans. Camargo had been taken possession 
of on the 14th July, by a party of rangers and 
the 7th Infantry, and Gen. Taylor had made it 
a point of rendezvous where he was concentra- 
ting all his force, preparatory to an advance on 
Monterey ; arid now the whole line was in mo- 
tion for that point ; troops were moving up by 
land and by water — large trains were moving 
up by the over land route, and twelve or four- 
teen steamers were constantly plying in the 
service, carrying up troops, stores, and materiel. 

We proceeded so slowly up the Rio Grande 
that we had ample opportunity for seeing the 
adjacent country, and I was favorably impressed 
with the appearance of fertility throughout the 
whole valley as far as I ascended, which was 
some three hundred miles. The soil which usu- 
ally consists of a deep, rich alluvial deposite, or 
a sandy loam, is capable of producing almost 
every staple of the States : corn, rice, sugar, 
cotton, tobacco, and indigo, all yield exuberant 
crops. At present, but few farms are to be seen 
along the banks of this stream, and on these the 
crops are seldom ploughed more than twice, and 

LctG. 



100 REMIXISCENCEg OF A 

tlien the soil is only furrowed to the depth of 
four inches, and their implements are of as 
ancient a model as those invented by Cain. 
Yet even beneath this imperfect and partial 
system of cultivation, which is so little calcula- 
ted to elicit the capabilities of the soil, the crops 
are usually exceedingly abundant. 

The lower Rio Grande is admirabty suited to 
culture of rice, and I have been assured by per- 
sons conversant with the culture of cotton that 
the soil on this river is well adapted to the finest 
varieties of that staple. The only cotton I saw 
in Mexico was on the Rio Grande, and there it 
needs replanting but once in four or six -years. 
The crops of cotton that 1 saw were usually 
planted in the same field Avith the corn, alter- 
nate rows of each ; and both the^jCotton and corn 
were equal, if not superior, to any I have ever 
seen ; and though neither can obtain its greatest 
growth under the present defective cultivation, 
yet I have seen whole fields where the cotton 
was ten and the corn fourteen feet in height, and 
each producing in proportion to its size. The 
whole valley will yield luxuriant crops of sugar 
cane, but in many places the timber is so scarce 
that a sufficient quantity of fuel could not be 
obtained for the manufacture of sugar ; but this 
objection might be in a great measure obviated, 
as fuel could be brought at a light expense from 
above ; for since the country has fallen into the 
hands of the Americans, extensive coal mines 
of an excellent quality have been discovered on 
the Rio Salado, near Guerrero, four hundred 
miles from the mouth of the Rio Grande. In 
addition to these staples, all the leguminous 
plants produce here with an astonishing fe- 
cunditv. 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 101 

The day is not far distant when this valley 
will be considered one of the finest agricultural 
regions of the globe, as its fertility will richly 
compensate for the want of timber. The coun- 
try is not exactly devoid of timber, for immedi- 
ately along the river considerable forests may 
be seen, composed of ebony, rosewood, and a 
variety of other trees, but none of great height ; 
but off the river the timber usually consists of a 
species of thorny locust, called by the Indians 
mizquita, by the Spaniards mesquite ; it is a low 
tree, seldom more than thirty feet in height, with 
its branches spreading, gnarled, and irregularly 
disposed, and covered with small, spare, pinnate 
leaves. It has a sweet, yellow flower, and bears 
a bean from which the Indians formerly made a 
kind of bread, and also brewed a liquor. It ex- 
udes a gum which is said to be genuine gum- 
arabic, and it is hence classed by many with the 
real acacia. The wood is very hard and heavy, 
and though too crooked for building after our 
mode, yet it answers the Mexicans extremely 
well for that purpose. 

Hitherto the Rio Grande has been but httle 
known, and the rich and extensive country bor- 
dering upon its banks had been uncultivated, or 
only here and there, at long intervals besprinkled 
with a few patches of maize, eaid has only afford- 
ed pasturage to the herds and flocks of the idle 
ranchero. Centuries have rolled by, and this 
order of things has been unbroken by a change ; 
but it does not require any peculiar power of 
vaticination to tell that a new order of things is 
now about to be instituted. 

The North, from time immemorial, has been 
engendering its swarms to pour them on the 
South. The restless Anolo-Saxon has been 



102 REMINISCENCES OF A 

pushing westward and southward ; wherever he 
plants his foot he never recedes, but clinging on 
with unblenching tenacity, makes room in front 
— moral, mental and physical superiority give 
him supremacy, and the weaker race sink before 
him. Thus he has pressed on from the shores 
of the Atlantic, until overleaping his political 
confines, he has trod the fair plains of the south, 
where he boldly plants his stake and maintains 
his right of occupancy; he dates his charter 
from the lips of inspiration, and knows that 
sooner or later it must be fulfilled. Whatever, 
then, may be the result ensuing our war with 
Mexico, it never can expel the American from 
the soil; for he has obtained there a foothold, 
and it is constitutional with him to relinquish 
nothing which he has undertaken. 

From the vast agricultural resources, mineral 
productions, commercial and manufacturing ad- 
vantages, which the valley of the Rio Grande 
possesses, we may rationally conjecture that 
Yankee enterprise will aim at the full develop- 
ment of all these capabilities and advantages. 
It only requires the industry and ingenuity of 
the Yankee to pronounce the "open Sesame," 
and this region will unfold its hidden treasures, 
and ere half a century shall have passed away, 
the shores of this river will resound with the 
noisy hum of cities, the clank of forges, and the 
din of iron sinews at their tireless toil. 

The country around Matamoras presents some 
of the finest scenery I have ever seen. The 
landscape wears all that softness and richness 
so much lauded in oriental scenery. Tall groves 
of palmetto, with their bare trunks surmounted 
by fan-leafed crests, are waving in the breeze ; 
vast fields of Georgia cane are stretching along 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 103 

the banks of the river, while, springing from the 
very water's edge, are an infinite variety of 
shrubs, in all their tropical exuberance, and so 
matted and interlaced with vines and creepers, 
that the rays of the sun never penetrate their 
impervious shade ; from beneath are peering in- 
numerable wild flowers in perennial bloom load- 
ing the air with their grateful perfume, creeping 
over all the down plant, with its snowy fringe, 
presents a pleasing contrast to the dark verdure 
of the dendritic foliage beneath. To give life 
and animation to the landscape, gay plumaged 
birds are flitting through the foliage with songs 
as varied as their iridescent plumage ; flocks of 
curlews are raised to wing by the shrill signal 
whistle of their sentry; flights of noisy jackdaws 
are screaming over head; scores of spoon-bill 
ducks and other aquatic fowl are sporting in the 
eddies of the turbid stream ; there, a tall flamin- 
go is pruning its purple plumage by the glassy 
mirror of some translucent lake, while a number 
of snowy herons are strutting along in line with 
grave air and measured step, looking for all the 
world like a grave procession of surpliced par- 
sons. 

Passing through such scenes as these, on the 
20th, at 1 1 o'clock in the morning, we hove in 
sight of Matamoras, by overland scarce a mile 
distant, butj following a capricious bend of the 
river, we were carried so fat away that we did 
not reach the city until four in the evening. Oar 
boat remained only a few hours at Matamoras, 
and consequently I had but a short time to ex- 
amine the city. 

Matamoros is situated in a fine region of coun- 
try, and is ninety miles from the Gulf. Opposite 
the lower end of the city, is the American forti- 



104 REMINISCENCES OF A 

fication, Fort Brown ; at the upper end ami at 
the wharf, on the Mexican side, is Fort Paredes, 
a pentagonal work, surrounded by a deep, broad 
moat, comnfiunicating with the river; the whole 
work, parapet, glacis, exterior and interior talus, 
and even the revetments, is built of loose earth. 

It is a general remark that when you have 
seen one Mexican city, you have seen them all : 
though I concede, that there is some truth in the 
remark, owing to the air of sameness common 
to all Mexican cities, yet Matamoras differs in 
many respects from the other cities I saw ; its 
business-like air, the character of the inhabit- 
ants, and in some respects the minor peculiarities 
in its buildings, are differences peculiar to itself; 
but its essential difference from all other Mexi- 
can cities, except Tampico, is the American air 
that pervades the whole city; and the spirit of 
activity and progressive improvement, which is 
everywhere to be seen throughout the place, too 
glaring Yankee characteristics to cause any 
doubt, that it is derived from contact with our 
enterprising people. 

The city is laid out into regular squares, with 
good streets intersecting each other at right ang- 
les. Many of the houses are two stories in height 
and built in the Moorish style of architecture. 
When viewed from a short distance, the city 
wears quite an agreeable aspect, and the orange, 
lime and other tropical trees, here and there 
scattered through the city, lend it a freshness 
and aroma that partly allay the disappintment 
the stranger is apt to meet with on entering its 
suburbs. On either side of the narrow streets 
as you enter the outskirts, are low huts built of 
reeds or stakes, thatched with palmetto, and 
without floors ; the wretched inmates bear all 



CAMPAIGN nv Msi'ico. iOB 

the marks of squalid povertj% and their principal 
food consists in the strings of garlic depending 
from their roofs, and the cayenne pepper that 
grows spontaneously along the brush fences 
which inclose their j^ards. Farther up, you will 
find the houses built of adobes, or huge sun^ 
dried brick, with a few orange, lime and palma- 
christi trees growing in the yards. Approach-^ 
ing the plaza, you will encounter at every step 
droves of mules and Tisses, laden with charcoal^ 
corn, green corn stalks, and some so completely 
enveloped in hay that only their feet and eyes 
are visible. /Water carriers, with their cry of 
"agua" at every step, are rolling their barrels 
after them by ropes looped over pins in the cen- 
tre of each head. Lepei'os, with broad-briiiimed 
sombreros, leathern galligaskins and suspicious 
looking countenances are passing to and fro, 
concealing, God knows what, beneath the folds 
of their party-colored Wankets, and answering 
every question, by an eternal '' quien sahe?^^ 
(who knows?) accompanied by a waving of the 
right Ibrefinger before the right eye, a shrug of 
the shoulders and a grimace, so peculiarly ex- 
pressive of ignorance and negation as to bar all 
further inquiry. Numbers of miserably clad 
women are strolling through the streets vi^ith 
troops of naked children following at their heels. 
Arrived at the plaza, you find a spacious 
square, surrounded by buildings one or two stories 
in height and well built of brick ; but the fiat 
roofs, huge, massive doors and large grated win- 
dows, give the whole place a cold, prison-like 
appearance, which, with the dilapidated turrets, 
yawning arches, and hollow aisles of the ruined 
cathedral on the east side of the plaza, cannot 
fail to inspire nearly every one at first with i'eel- 
5* 



100 -^ REMINISCENCES of A 

ings of melancholy; yet, in a farther stroll 
through the city, you will leave with not unfavor- 
able impressions as to the beauty of the place, 
for you will find many beautiful gardens, neatly 
laid out and tastefully decorated with rare flowers 
and rich evergreens ; while many a lovely bru= 
nette maid may be seen bowing adieu to some 
other fair senorita in an opposite balcony, or win- 
dow, with her dark, lustrous eye peering from be- 
neath the folds of her close drawn reboso, and 
watching wistfully for some favorite cahallero to 
pass. 

One cannot fail to be struck by the dogs with= 
out hair to be seen in the streets of Matamoras. 
This is one of the indigenous species found in 
Mexico at the time r,f the conquest. It was 
called by the Indian Xoloitzcuintli, and formed 
one of the principal articles of food, but the 
species is now nearly extinct, which the Abbe 
Clavigeso says is owing to the fact that their 
flesh, being of such sweet flavor, the early Spani- 
ards ate all that could be found. 

Leaving Matamoras, we proceeded up the 
river. As we advanced, the river widened and 
became less swift and crooked, while the banks 
were higher and the timber was of a larger and 
better quality. The only familiar acquaintances 
that we could recognise among the trees along 
the river were the willow and hackberr}', while 
among those new to us, the Wischita and Abys- 
sinian Locust stood pre-eminent for beauty. 
We laid too every night, and ,if there were 
ranches in the neighborhood, we invariably 
raised a fandango. 

We found this part of the Rio Grande less 
thickly populated than the lower portion owing 
to the forays of the Camanches, who occasional- 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 107 

ly scour the country along this portion of the 
river, pillaging the farms, burning the houses, de- 
stroying the cattle, murdering the men and car- 
rying off the women. And a part}^ of these wild 
warriors of the prairies were, at this time, out on 
a predatory excursion, we found several bodies 
of Mexicans they had murdered floating down 
the stream, and wherever our boat landed, we 
could hear of the ravages committed by these 
remorseless barbarians. Upon one occasion we 
stopped at a rancho where every soul had been 
murdered, except two women and a few chil- 
dren, only four days before. 



CHAPTER XI. 



Towns on the river — Reach Camargo — Explosion of the Enter- 
prise — Our camp below the City — Unhealthy location — Sick- 
ness in Camp — Orders to March — Discharge our Sick — Placed 
under the command of Oen. Quitman — Cross the river^ — Patter^ 
son and Pillow's command-— Anecdote of Taylor. 

On the 22d, we stopped at the small towns of 
Capote and Chapala, situated within a half mile 
of each other. We found the people here more 
open, hospitable, and decidedly of a better class 
than any we bad seen along the lower river; 
except those in Matamoras, The inhabitants 
seemed to care nothing for the war; they looked 
cheerful and happy, and I must confess that I 
derived good impressioiis of the place from see- 
ing a large crowd of children emerging from a 
school-house with slates and satchels. They all 
had bright and intelligent faces, and I was quite 
astonished when the schoolmaster, Senor Garza y 



108 RE3IINISCENCES OF A 

Garza, whose acquaintance I made, called quite 
a number of the children up to us and made 
them write dov/n the answers to our interroga- 
tories in a most beautiful and legible hand. 

On the 24th, we passed the town o£ Rejniosa, 
which is about one hundred and forty miles be- 
low Camargo. The town is finely situated on a 
high eminence, about a mile from the river, on 
the Mexican side. It is built upon a solid lime- 
stone rock, and the houses are mostly construct- 
ed of that materia], and from the river, it pre- 
sents a fine appearance. But it is said to con- 
tain a thousand or twelve hundred population of 
the most consummate scoundrels in all Mexico* 
The Texans represent them, as an organized 
band of brigands ; and it is said that when 
McCulloch's Rangers encamped here for several 
weeks, that they were unable to bear the brazen 
faced effrontery of some of the most notorious 
of the villains, who had so often robbed and 
murdered their countrymen, and they quietly 
abducted them from the town, and hung or shot 
them. We reached on the 25th of August, our 
camp on the San Juan river, four miles above its 
confluence with the Rio Grande, and three miles 
below Camargo. We found a large force al- 
ready assembled, all of whom were encamped 
between us and the town. All the other detach- 
ments of our regiment had safely arrived, except 
one, which had embarked on the Enterprise, 
which blew up just above Reynoso, killing sev- 
eral and scalding some twenty others. As this 
accident had been caused by the palpable neglect 
of a drunken engineer, the men tried him by the 
Lynch code, and after inflicting summary punish- 
ment upon him set him adrift among the Mexi- 
cans. The spot marked out for encampment 



CAMPAlGi!^ IN MEXICO. lOO 

Was completely covered with the cactus phyllan^ 
thus from five to ten feet in height, and so thick- 
ly fortified with spines and prickles, that it was 
only with great labor and caution a clearing 
could be effected; yet before a week had elapsed 
the several regiments adjoining each other had 
so thoroughly cleared up their respective camp 
and parade grounds, that the whole encampment 
for three miles along the river, and several hun 
dred yards in width, was, by daily sweeping, 
clean as a housewife's floor. 

The San Juan, at this time, had just returned 
within its legitimate bounds, having been recent-* 
ly swollen by an unprecedented overflow which 
had inundated the whole country adjacent to its 
mouth, and had laid Camargo, though sixty feet 
above ordinary water mark, almost in ruins. 
Our army was located in a natural amphitheatre, 
shut in by a series of low, rocky, barren hills, 
which efiectually precluded us from the sea 
breeze during the day, and their rocky sides 
reflecting the lays of the sun fairly concentrated 
them within the basin ; thus, as it were, shut up 
in an oven, the heat was overpowering — sicken- 
ing beyond endurance — the thermometer not 
unfrequently reaching 112*^ Fahrenheit. The 
stoutest men were prostrated from slight expo- 
Fure to the sun, and yet the greater number of 
our men were enervated by an endemic diarrhea, 
caused by the brackish water of the San Juan, 
while many were yet laboring under the eflects 
of the measles. In addition to the action of the 
sun's rays upon the succulent stems of the 
prickly pears removed from our camp, and on 
the porous earth which had been saturated with 
water by the recent floods, were generated 
noxious gases and deadly miasmas, that produ- 



110 heminiscences of a 

ced malignant fevers and disease in all its loath^ 
some forms. The sick lists were increasing from 
tens to hundreds ; scores, who had hoped to win 
glory upon the battle field, were hurried off to 
an untimely grave. From our own regiment, 
we daily carried forth from five to seven brave 
hearts that would have faced death in the hour 
of battle with unblenching courage. Hour after 
hour was heard the mournful, melancholy sound 
of the dead march, and the slow, heavy step of 
the detail that bore some shroudless, coffinless 
corpse to its long home, where, palled onlj^ in a 
blanket, it was committed to the earth without 
sigh or tear; and the three prescribed rounds of 
musketry over the grave told that his last re- 
quiem was o'er. This was an ordeal more ter- 
rible than battle, for when the soul is nerved 
amidst the din of war, and the blood is hot, to 
die is easy; but to face the slow approaches of 
the monster, to feel the pulses of the stagnant 
blood grow gradually fainter, and to know that 
this devotion unto death will not even reap the 
meed of short lived mention tor their names, is 
horrible beyond expression. 

The soldier, from constant communion with 
scenes of death, becomes imbued with feelings 
of strange recklessness : he learns to mock death 
in its very face, and laughs and jests over the 
open grave of his comrade, although he knows 
the next grave may be his own. 

A requisition was made on the 29th August, 
for five hundred of our regiment to proceed to 
Monterey, but such sad havoc had death and 
disease made in our ranks, that when, on the 
30th, we were drawn up to be inspected by Col. 
Belknap, the requisite number could not be 
paraded. 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICd. Ill 

As we stood drawn up for inspection I could 
scarcely credit that the few pale, emaciated 
men before me, were all that were left of the 
proud regiment that but a few weeks before had 
stood in the capital of their own fair S'ate, so 
fail of lusty life and buoyant hopes. But strange 
are the vicissitudes of war-— of all the thousand 
that so lately left their homes, glowing with 
bright hopes, and burning with ardor to meet the 
foe, now, ere yet was heard a hostile gun, death 
had decimated them and many were sleeping 
where the thunders of battle nor the shouts of 
victory can v/ake them. 

Owing to the extreme fatalit}" among the sick, 
the commanding General deemed it conformable 
to humanity and justice to the service to author- 
ize the discharge of ail such sick as Vv'ere under 
the regulations entitled to their discharge. Ac» 
cordingly, we made out discharges for alm.ost all 
our sick, amounting to nearly three hundred; 
these, with the discharged sick and nearly a 
hundred that we had buried, reduced the effect- 
ive force of our regiment to less than five hun- 
dred men. Under a new assignment of brigades, 
we were transferred from General Pillow, and, 
with the Mississippi regiment, formed a brigade 
under Gen. Quitman. 

Leaving Maj, Farquharson in charge of the 
sick and convalescent, on the 2d of Sept., we 
crossed the river and encamped above Camargo, 
with the remainder of Gen. Butler's division. 
Maj. Gen. Patterson was left in command of all 
the troops south of the San Juan, and Gen. Pil- 
low was made governor of Camargo. And here 
I must again do Gen. Pillow the justice to men- 
tion his kind attentions to the sick, and his un- 



^ 



112 REMINISCENCES OF A 



remitting exertions to facilitate the departure of* 
our discharged. 

It was at Camargo that I first saw General 
Taylor* and after a close scrutiny of his man- 
ners, and remarkable physiognomy, I am pre- 
pared to appreciate in full his camp soubriquet 
of " Rough and Ready. " 

While Taylor was at Camargo, there occurred 
an incident which I have never seen in print* 
There was among the rangers a man named 
Gray, one of those noble, independent spirits so 
riiten to be met with in the corps. Being of a 
tail, well proportioned frame, of a bold, intrepid 
nature, and possessing an unstinting generosity, 
a ivarJr. open countenance, where benevolence 
and good humor glowed in every feature. Gray 
was the idol of his companions, and they had 
often offered him 'every office in their corps, but 
spurning all the proffered honors, he chose to 
remain in the quiet mastership of his horse and 
rifle. Shortl}^ after the arrival of Gen. Taylor, 
Gray happened to be watering his horse in the 
8an Juan, when a negro came down with two 
horses and riding into the water at a sharp trot 
spattered the water all over Gray, who turning 
quietly around accosted the negro with *' Mind, 
darkie, who you spatter your water on. " The 
negro, who chanced to belong to Gen. Taylor, 
highly insulted at being termed a "darkie," 
gruffly answered, " Marster sent me down here 
to water my horses, and I'll water 'em whar I 
please, if I does spatter water on you. " Sca,rce~ 
]y had he uttered it, before Gray leveled a back 
handed lick at him, which lifting him from the 
saddle, dropped him at some distance in the 
water. Gray returned to his camp, while the 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 113 

negro who chanced to be Old Zack's servant 
went off in high dudgeon to report the affair to 
Gen. Taylor. On hearing the circumstance, 
Old Zack grew furious, and seizing his cap, hur- 
ried off as fast as his short legs could carry him 
to Maj. Cevalier's quarter, where arriving, with 
his lower lip hanging over his chin and his face 
Hushed, he commenced, "Major, one of your 
men has been abusing my servant, and I want 
you to have him punished forthwith, sir." ''Cer- 
tainly, General," answered Cevalier, "I'll order 
a guard and have him found." " O, tut! tut ! ! 
tut!!! if you are to wait on a guard, I'll hun t 
for the man myself." And suiting the action to 
the word, off he started through the camp to 
hunt some one that filled the description the 
negro had given. Passing through the camp, 
he came at last to where Gray was quietly cur- 
rying his horse. Gray observing the General, 
who was perfectly incognito to him, scrutinising 
him very closel}^ thought he wished to scrape 
up an acquaintance — so he spoke up, "Good 
morning, my old friend ; you look rather grum, 
but I can just tell you a joke that will tickle you. 
While ago I was down here at the river water 
ing my horse, when a d — d black negro came 
riding in and splattered me all over ; says I very 
quietly to him, " Mind, darkie, how you spatter 
your water, " when he spattered still more on 
me, and gave me some of his impudence. I then 
brought him a sidewiper that knocked him ten 
feet into the water ; and what's more, stranger, 
I'll be d — d if I don't believe I'd have done it if 
it had been Old Zack's negro himself." Old 
Zack, who had quietly listened to this narration, 
felt his anger iairly eke out, and pleased with 
the fine appearance and free manners of Gray, 



114 REMINISCENCES OF A 

and the half compliment to himself, turned away 
and started to his tent, without saying a word. — 
Going by Cevalier's tent, he found a guard pa- 
raded and awaiting his orders to punish the of- 
fender. Says he in his rough voice, *' Never 
mind, Major, 3^ou can dismiss your guard — I 
have seen the man and settled it with him my- 
self." 



CHAPTER XII. 



Caraargo — A visit to the Cathedral — Primitive customs — Caman- 
ches — Mexican Indians — Their dance — Reconnoissance— Prep- 
arations for moving on Monterey — Gen. Worth advances— 
Twiggs and Butler follow — Leave Camargo — Crosses along the 
road^-Appearance of the country — Want of water — Prickly 
burs upon the grass — Mountains in the distance — Mier — Ce- 
ralvo — Its trees and springs — Women bathing — Leave Ceral- 
vo — Passo Gallo — Join the other division at Marin — Reveille 
— San Francisco — First gun — Fine spirits of the volunteers- 
Encamp at the Walnut Springs. 

Camargo contains about eleven thousand in- 
habitants, and it is said to have been quite a 
pretty town ; but at the time we were there it 
had been inundated, and many of the houses 
were in a ruined and dilapidated state; but 
however beautiful it might have been, the asso- 
ciations that were in our minds linked with it, 
were enough to have made an Eden loose its 
charms. Though naturally unhealthy, from its 
copious and chilling dews at night, and exces- 
ive heat by day, it had, by the aid of other dead- 
ly agents, become our necropolis, and had proved 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 115 

a most powerful auxiliary to the enemy. The 
town is built of stone and adobe, and contains 
some excellent buildings. 

It was here I first had an opportunity of visit- 
ing a cathedral. It was Sunday, and I entered 
the door with the expectation of seeing some of 
that magnificence which I had so often heard of 
in connection with Mexican churches, and I must 
confess, with some faint idea too of seeing a few 
of those little "gold Jesuses ;" but on reaching 
the interior, I was doomed to a sad disappoint- 
ment. I stopped amidst the kneeling worship- 
pers around to look about me, when, by the dim 
light afforded by the door and a window in the 
vaulted roof over the choir, I could discern, in- 
stead of golden images, nothing but a few ill- 
daubed pictures of gloomy saints here and there, 
scowling along the walls. At the farther end 
Ojf the long dark aisle, stood a plain altar, blaz- 
ihg with tapers in brazen candlesticks — while 
several padres in cope, stole, and scapulaire, 
were officiating before the altar with a profusion 
of manipulations. 

All this, and more, I had seen in our own 
cathedrals ; but while I was thus brooding over 
my disappointment, in a gallery behind me, and 
over the doorway, a band struck up one of the 
wildest, most thrilling airs I ever heard. I 
turned and saw that the band consisted of two 
violins and three shrill Mexican clarionets. As 
I stood entranced by that strange, wild music, 
and looked down the dark aisle, whose floor was 
covered with bending devotees fervently cross- 
ing themselves, and watched the motion of the 
priests, and inhaled the fumes of the incense, 
strange, indefinable feelings of awe crept over 
me, and I began to wonder whether I were re- 



116 REMINISCENCES OF A 

ally in a Mexican cathedral, or in the temple of 
the ancient Mexican Huitzibopochtle. 

The inhabitants of Camargo are very hospita- 
ble, and I was forcibly struck with some of their 
primitive customs ; among others, the women at 
evening are accustomed to go forth together, 
with their earthenware pitchers for the purpose 
of drawing water from the river like the Syrian 
and Egyptian women ; and their short petticoats 
and bare feet, their long, dark hair falling loosely 
from beneath the scarf orreboso across the head, 
and their large urn-shaped pitchers resting on 
the shoulder and supported by one hand, could 
not but remind me of Rebecca at the well of 
Nahor, "when she hasted and let down her 
pitcher from her hand for" Eleazer "to drink." 

Dm-ing the morning, from daylight until ten 
o'clock, the San Juan presented a rare scene to 
the eye of an American. Scores of girls and 
women were in the habit of resorting to the 
stream at this time for the purpose of bathing, 
and without manifesting the slightest concern at 
our presence they would unblushingly disrobe 
themselves before our eyes and leap into the 
clear waters of the stream, and for hours they 
would splash and sport through the waters like 
Nereides and Oceanides of Grecian fable ; now 
chasing each other through the water like Alo- 
nymphs, now diving into the depths of the 
stream, or swimming along its surface with their 
long, loose, raven tresses flowing behind them. 
A merrier set of nymphs, it would be hard to 
find than these same bathers, they seem to throw 
their full soul into the sport ; they laugh, shout, 
sing, wrestle with each other, and display their 
graceful forms in a thousand agile movements, 
until one would think that the days of Diana 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 117 

had returned; and a modest American, who had 
been educated with such different ideas of pro- 
priety would at first ahnost fear to share the 
fate of Actseon for daring to intrude upon such 
a scene. But education is everything, and liere 
this custom is an every day affair, and does not 
at all contravene their ideas of modesty and 
propriety. And as the custom originated in ne- 
cessity it is to be con-jidered with due allowance. 
It is necessary in this country to resort to fre- 
quent bathing in order to pm^chase good health 
and exemption fi'om fever, and as it is almost 
impossible to have private baths, modesty has 
been compelled to yield to necessit3^ 

Tlie country about Camargo is frequently de- 
vastated by the Camanches in their predatory 
incursions. Just opposite Camargo, and in the 
rear of our camp, a tribe of Mexican Indians 
had settled. They preserved their identity with 
more remarkable distinctness than any other I 
saw who were incorporated in the Mexican do- 
minions. Their habits and customs were un- 
mixed with those of the mixed races around 
them, but resembled more those of their wild 
neighbors, the Camanches and Cayugas, of the 
Texas prairies. While near them we had an 
opportunity of witnessing one of their national 
dances. It was a wild scene. They had as- 
sembled in the open air at night, and large fires 
were kindled, which threw a ghastly glare upon 
the tattooed faces of the dusky figures which 
were seated in groups around a large open cir- 
cle. Anon a tall Indian in full costume, with 
his hair gaudily decked with feathers, and with a 
profusion of tinkling appendages to his dress, 
leaped into the ring, and commenced the dance, 
shouting at the same time in a harsh screeching 



118 REMINISCENCES OF A 

monotone, and rattling, as castanetts, a few 
pebbles in a small gourd. Another and another 
arose and followed, men and women indiscrim- 
inately, until, with leaping, screeching, tingling 
and contortion, the whole appeared like demons 
at their orgies. 

On the 12th of August, Lieut. Col. Duncan, 
with a field battery, and McCulloch's Rangers, 
was thrown forward from Camargo, for the pur- 
pose of pushing reconnoissances in the direction 
of Monterey. This he satisfactorily effected, 
and returned on the 17th, after having advanced 
as far as Ceralvo, eighty miles distant, and 
having taken in the route the towns of Mier 
and Punta Aguda. The movements of the army 
had been greatly crippled and delayed by a de- 
ficiency of transportation in the Quartermaster's 
department, and the quantity of wagons now 
on the line were totally inadequate to the de- 
mands of the service. In order to obviate the 
difficulties arising from this deficiency, the whole 
country, far and near, had been scoured, and a 
sufficiency of pack mules, with their arrieros or 
drivers, had been collected for the transportation 
of the column preparing to move on Monterey. 

While these arrangements were being com- 
pleted. Gen. Worth, towards the last of August, 
was ordered to assume the advance with his di- 
vision and move forward on the Ceralvo route, 
and occupy some point towards Monterey. Pur- 
suant to this order, he took up the line of march 
and entered into position at Punta Aguda, fif- 
teen miles before reaching Ceralvo. By the 5th 
of September, the centre division, under Gen. 
Twiggs, was put in motion, and was soon followed 
by the 2d Brigade of Butler's division, under Gen. 
Hamer. 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 119 

It was on the 17th that the last of our army, 
consisting of Gen. Quitman's brigade, left the 
western bank of the Rio San Juan. Having 
divested ourselves of all the baggage we could 
possibly spare, the rest was rolled in the tents 
and securely packed on the backs of the pack 
mules, and by eight o'clock we were en route for 
Monterey, and happy enough to bid farewell to 
Camargo, with its scorpions, tarantulas, centi- 
pedes, and its plagues of Egypt ; for vi hile there 
our camp was infested with death, measles or 
murrain, vermin, and flies, and even with small 
frogs, till they came up into our tents and choaked 
our paths. We therefore turned our backs upon 
Camargo as, Lot did upon the cities of the plain, 
and we did not stop to cast a lingering look 
upon a spot whose horrors had already impress- 
ed it upon our memories too vividly ever to be 
effaced. 

After a march of nine miles, we encamped 
by a lake which had formerly been the bed of 
the Rio Grande. This river like the Mississippi 
is somewhat celebrated for its cut offs, as it oc- 
casionally breaks through some narrow point 
and leaves a lake in the old channel. In 1752 
the whole bed of the river for thirty leagues 
above and thirty leagues below El Passo del 
Norte became suddenly dry by the river precip- 
itating itself into a large chasm w^here it found 
a subterranean channel for sixty leagues when 
it again made its appearance. After flowing in 
this subterranean channel for several weeks the 
chasm was gradually closed and the river re- 
sumed its former bed. The place at which we 
were now encamped was a lake some two miles 
in length, and was called lake Guardado. It 
was a beautiful and romantic spot; and the 



120 REMINISCENCES OF A 

clear and transparent water afforded such a 
grateful refreshment after the fatigues. of a hot 
and dusty march that but few of us neglected 
the opportunity of bathing in its pure waters. 
There we remained the ensuing day in order to 
send back a large number of our men, who were 
too sick or debilitated to continue the march, 
and also to receive a supply train which was to 
go up under our conduct. Having accomplished 
both these purposes, we were on the 9th again 
in motion. A short distance, and all traces of 
habitation ceased, but the innumerable crosses * 
lining the road on either side told too plainly 
that the robber and assassin had long been ten- 
ants of these desolate wilds. Our route lay 
over a dry, barren and broken country, covered 
with flint and coarse loose stones, and occasion- 
ally the ground was cut up by deep, yawning 
chasms, which gave the earth the appearance of^ 
having been rent by earthquakes. Our men 
suffered terribly from thirst ; for water was only 
to be had at the end of the day's march, fre- 
quently from fifteen to twenty miles distant, 
and the dust v/as almost suffocating. 

I believe it is constitutional with man for his 
desire for a thing to increase when it is inhibited 
him; at least I found it so here, for when the 



*The priests or padres always erect across over the grave of 
a murdered person, and as he died unshrift they inscribe on the 
cross an injunction to all good Catholics, viz: "Por el amor de 
Dias, &c." (for the love of God say a pater noster and an Ave 
Maria,) in order to assist the soul of the deceased in bursting 
the bonds nf purgatory. Such an ascendancy has their religion 
over the minds of the Catholics, that during a certain length of 
time, no true and zealous Catholic ever passes one of these 
crosses without devoutly crossing himself, and having repeated 
the pater noster and Ave Maria, lays, as a witness, a small stone 
at the foot or upon the arms of the cross until they accumulate 
a huge pile like the Scottish cairns. 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 121 

men became perfectly assured that it was impos- 
sible for them to obtain water, they almost raved 
for it. It was really pitiful to behold them; 
sometimes they would meet with a small pond 
of stagnant water, when they would rush like 
madmen into the pool, and brushing away the 
greenish scum upon the top, drink with perishing 
avidity the noisome beverage, though it was al- 
most boiling beneath the sun and thick with the 
stale and odor of cattle. Journeying on over 
this arid, dreary tract, beneath the oppressive 
fervor of a southern sun, we had not even a Rne 
landscape to lighten our toilsome march, and it 
was in vain a halt for rest was called for, when 
the tired soldier, seeking the thin shade offered 
by the scattered branches of the sparsely leafed 
musquite, and lured by the tempting grass be- 
neath, would throw himself upon the ground for 
a moment's rest — a thousand prickly burs upon 
the insidious grass pierced his body and literally 
goaded him on to his wearying task. It was not 
without truth that I heard a soldier exclaim, 
while writhing from the effects of these prickles, 
"D — n such a country — everything has thorns 
on it here ; not only the trees and bushes, but 
even the grass, frogs, (agama cornuta,) and 
crickets are thorny." During our second day's 
march, like a blue cloud in the horizon, the lofty 
Sierra Madre loomed up in the dim distance of 
seventy miles, and like the visions of hope, or 
the mirage of the desert, they seemed constantly 
to recede as we advanced, and their rugged 
peaks carved by nature's vagaries into a thous- 
and fantastic forms, day after day grew not more 
distinct until we reached their very base. 

On the 11th, we passed a mile to the left of 
Mier, famous for the expedition sent against it 



122 REMINISCENCES OF A 

in 1842, led by Fisher and Greene, which resulted 
in their capture by Ampudia, who basely violat- 
ing the terms of capitulation, sent them off pris- 
oners to Perote. Ampudia was now in command 
of the Mexican army at Monterey, and from his 
well known character we knew that such of us 
as might fall into his hands would meet with no 
mercy. In the summer of 1844 he had been in 
command at Tobasco when the unfortunate Gen. 
Sentmanat who had been exiled by Santa An- 
na, made an attempt upon the town, which prov- 
ing unsuccessful, he was taken and shot with 
fourteen of his companions, and Ampudia states 
that he had their heads boiled in oil and hung up 
in iron cages. Passing Punta Aguda on the 
12th, we reached Ceralvo the next day. Ce- 
ralvo is the prettiest site for a town that I have 
ever seen ; it lies just at the base of a lofty 
spur of the Sierra Madre range, and it is wa- 
tered by a translucent stream that leaps cool 
from a mountain gorge above ; it has some fine 
springs, and the banks of the crystal stream 
are shaded by tall cypresses. These were the 
first springs and trees (that deserved the name) 
we had seen in Mexico, and they were like old 
acquaintances to us. But in addition to these, 
Ceralvo has many other charms, and I strolled 
through it for several hours with infinite pleas- 
ure. In my meanderings through the town, I 
chanced to stumble on a bevy of girls bathing 
in the pure stream, and clothed in the "first 
habiliments of Eve." They were sporting, div- 
ing, and splashing the water about with as much 
innocence and sang froid as "Eve trod the vales 
of Eden." 

The day we reached Ceralvo, we lost a man 
by the bite of a tarantula. The bite is said to be 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 123 

incurable. This man lived only eight or ten 
hours. He suffered no pain, and the only external 
signs of the poison were a slight swelling of the 
face, and two dark livid spots upon his lip where 
the fangs had penetrated. We had a number 
of men stung, too, by scorpions, but they seldom 
injure more than the sting of a hornet. 

Having joined Gen. Hamer's brigade, we re- 
cruited one day at Ceralvo, and leaving two 
companies from the Mississippi regiment in the 
summer residence of Santa Anna, as a garrison 
to the town, we again commenced our march 
on the 15th. Keeping along the foot of the 
mountain range, the country was much better 
in appearance than that over which we had 
passed already, and every few miles a bright 
l>old mountain stream, of the most perfect trans- 
parency, was leaping across our path. We 
were now travelling over a vast plain, covered 
with yucca ahorescenSy and thickly strewed with 
ranches, but their vacuity plainly told us that 
we should meet with a warm reception at Mon- 
terey. Our road led towards a gap in the range, 
and following it we soon reached Papagayo, 
where a few days before the Rangers had skirm- 
ished with the enemy's outposts under Torrejon. 
Some of our men found here a considerable 
quantity of copper balls secreted in a rancho. 
Emerging from Papagayo, we ascended a bench 
of table land, and in a few hours were encamp- 
ed be3^ond Marin, where the three divisions of 
our army once more joined each other upon the 
banks of the San Juan. The water here was 
quite brackish, and it flowed over a bed of stone 
where the strata was inclined and rested upon 
each other like rows of bricks that had been set 
upon end and tumbled down 



124 REMINISCENCES OF A 

The next morning reveille was sounded many 
hours before day, in order to give the long lines 
more time to get in motion. I never shall forget 
that reveille : all was quietness, and the camp 
was resting in slumber, when the note of a single 
bugle broke upon the stillness, another and an- 
other joined in, drum was echoed by drum, until 
the whole camp seemed alive with bugles, drums 
and fifes. In a short time, fires were lit, break- 
fast cooked, and we moved off and encamped at 
the small tov»^n of San Francisco ; within ten 
miles of Monterey. Though this was but a small 
place, we discovered in it more traces of im- 
provement than in any other tovi^n, we met with 
in Mexico. A fine church was in progress of 
erection and quite a number of private houses 
were being built. 

On the morning of the 19lh, we decamped 
from San Francisco, with the troops all in fine 
spirits, and when the enemy's guns opened at 8 
o'clock upon our advance, the volunteers made 
the mountains ring with their shouts; indeed, 
they had all along been so full of life and spirit 
that they declared by way of levity, that they 
were going to a grand fandango at Monterey ; 
afterwards, when the merciless lancers were 
piercing our wounded upon the battle field, they 
cried out : " Es esta el fandango de Monterey, 
eh? esta uno fandango muchar 

In a few hours, our whole army, numbering 
about 6000, was encamped within four miles of 
Monterey, in a beautiful grove of live oak and 
pecan trees, watered by a number of large 
springs of the best water. 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 125 



CHAPTER XIII. 



General Taylor discredited the idea of opposition from the enemy 
— Observations of the Engineers and their result — The situ- 
ation of Monterey and its defences — "Black Fort," Bishop's 
Palace, &c. — Preparations for attack — Gen. Worth detached 
with a separate command — Worth sets out — Scene in camp 
on the 20th — Gen. Worth — Worth's march and its difficulties 
— Reaches the Mouelova road and encamps — Camp fires draw 
the enemy's guns upon them — He resumes his march at dawn 
— Mexican cavalry escapes — Line of battle and preparations 
to meet the attack — Charge of the Lancers — Their repulse — 
Worth gains the Saltillo road and encamps. 

From the time of our first movement towards 
Monterey, General Taylor had maintained that 
the enemy would offer no considerfible resis- 
tance to our occupation of that phice. Even 
after reaching Ceralvo, and General Worth. 
who had from the beginning predicted a vigor- 
ous resistance, stated that he had received un- 
deniable evidences of the enemy's determina- 
tion to oppose the farther progress of our arms ; 
yet General Taylor still maintained that if the 
enemy opposed us at all they would leave after 
the first fire. As we advanced from Marin, 
his doubts began to dissipate, yet he would not 
be convinced until, with General Henderson's 
rangers, he reached the edge of the plain wdiich 
overlooks the city, when a twelve pound shot 
striking within ten feet of the old hero told him 
too plainly that the enemy were prepared to 
contest his entrance. Quietly withdrawing his 
guard to the Walnut Springs, General Taylor 
ordered a halt, and the army sat down before 
Monterey. 



126 REMINISCENCES OF A 

It became necessary to reconnoitre the enemy's 
position, in order to ascertain the most assailable 
points : therefore the Engineers and topograph- 
ical Engineers, under Captain Williams and the 
indefatigable Maj. Mansfield, commenced their 
labor immediately upon their arrival before the 
city. The evening of the 19th and the morning 
of the 20th, were spent in reconnoissances to- 
wards the northern and eastern angles of the 
city, and it was discovered that the enemy had 
strongly fortified all the approaches to the city, 
and, having retired within the defences, seemed 
determined to risk nothing in an open engage- 
ment, but was quietly awaiting our attack. 

The city of Monterey, containing between 
fifteen and twenty thousand inhabitants, lies in 
a small niche scooped out of a lofty, rugged, 
range of volcanic mountains. These majestic 
bulwarks, upheaved in some mighty, convulsive 
throe of nature, in their inverted strata and 
harsh, splintered sides, display towers and bat- 
tlements and mural steeps that peer far away 
up above the clouds, and look down as if in very 
mockery of man's puny ramparts. The small 
Rio San Juan, issuing from a gorge in these 
mountains, flows along their base, and following 
the sweep of the range, forms a rich and lovely 
valley lower than the immense plain which 
spreads out towards the east. At the upper 
extremity of this beautiful valley, is situated the 
city, which extends for more than two miles 
along the stream which flows between it and 
the city. 

Nature could scarcely have formed a place 
more susceptible of fortification than Monterey. 
It is almost completely shut in by mountains 
which rise up abruptly to the height of four 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 127 

thousand feet, and many of the minor eminences 
hang directly over the city. Through a danger- 
ous defile, or barranca, along the gorge through 
which flows the Rio San Juan, is the mountain 
pass which leads up to Saltillo. Upon the 
north-east, approaches the road from Ceralvo, 
over a vast plain which, a few hundred yards 
in front of the city, falls off by a gradual slope 
into the valley of the San Juan. This plain, 
opposite the northern angle of the city, is inter- 
sected by a dry hollow, or ravine, a few hundred 
yards in length, while the remainder is perfect- 
ly level and thickly covered with stiff*, thorny 
shrubs, some four feet in height. Here and 
there, too, are fields of corn and sugar cane 
scattered over the plain. Though thus fortified 
by nature, the enemy had not failed to strength- 
en his natural advantages, but having called 
into requisition all the artificial means that 
military science could suggest, they succeeded 
in rendering it a perfect Gibraltar. 

On the eastern or lowest angle of the city, is 
a strong fort which commands all the approaches 
in that quarter. In the rear of this work, is a 
chain of fortifications which extend into the 
heart of the city, which serve as a support to 
the outer works and as successive points from 
whence to repel any advance towards the centre 
of the city. Upon the northern angle, is the 
citadel, which, being situated outside of the city 
and upon a slight elevation, commands the whole 
country for nearly two miles in every direction, 
and it serves as a support to the forts at the low- 
er end of the city. This fortification is a quad- 
rangular structure, two hundred yards square, 
with horn-works at every angle, each of which 
is pierced w^ith seven embrasures for artillery. 



128 REMINISCENCES OF A 

It is built of a grayish volcanic tufa, which 
affords the best material for fortification, as it is 
so soft that it imbeds the balls without shatter- 
ing. The parapet is twelve feet in thickness, 
and displays a stone revetment of such strength 
that nothing less than the heaviest metal could 
have the slightest effect to batter; while a 
broad ditch, twelve feet deep, surrounds the 
whole. From the centre of this fort, which is 
entirely new, rise the ruins of an immense 
building, erected for a cathedral. Its dusky 
walls, gloomy niches, and huge pillars, blacken- 
ed by age, with the dark, sulphurous canopy 
that constantly, during the battle, invested it, 
have among our soldiers won for this fort the 
appellation of the "old Black Fort." On the 
north-west, upon a high eminence overlooking 
the city, is the Bishop's Palace and an auxiliary 
fort, which command the Saltillo pass. Beyond 
the 8an Juan, over against the Bishop's palace, 
and in rear of the city, are several minor forts 
situated on different eminences. In addition to 
these forts without the city, every street w^as 
barricaded by a strong stone breastwork pierced 
with embrasures and the merlons prepared for 
musketry The houses are made of stone and 
being built in the Moorish style, the parapet 
walls around their flat roofs are looped for mus- 
ketry, and many of the buildings were fitted 
for obstinate defence, and even the cemetery was 
converted into a fort. 

Such is the natural and artificial strength of 
the city of Monterey, and in American hands 
it would have been impregnable to any assault. 
The enemy, relying upon their strength of posi- 
tion and numerical superiority, were so certain 
of success that they deemed it only necessary to 



CAMfAiejJ m MfiXFJo. 120 

await our attack in order to insure them the 
victory; and, in anticipation of such an issue, 
Gen. Ampudia had equipped a large force of 
cavalry who were to cut off our retreat after the 
battle. 

Owing to a reprehensible and lamentable lack 
of heavy guns, it was found necessary to carry 
the enemy's positions by the bayonet, and we 
commenced making vigorous preparations for 
the assault. In making the arrangements for 
_the attack, Gen. Taylor deemed it advisable to 
divide the army into two distinct commands. 
He, therefore, detached a strong division consist- 
ing of two brigades — the first, under Lieut- Col. 
Staniford, comprising the Eighth Infantry, Lieut. 
Col. Childs' Artillery Battalion, and Lieut. Cob 
Duncan's Flying Artillery. The second Brigade, 
Under Gen. P. F. Smith, was constituted of the 
Fifth and Seventh Infantr}^, Capt. Blanchard's 
company of Louisiana volunteers, and Lieut, 
Mackall's battery of Flying Artillery. Hays' 
regiment of Rangers was also attached to this 
division, and the whole was put under the com-^ 
mand of Gen. Worth. 

Gen. Vv^orth was ordered to approach the city 
by the main road, and then deflecting far to the 
right, endeavor, by a route discovered by the 
engineers, to turn the enemy's left, and by at- 
tacking him in reverse carry, if possible, the 
detached works in that quarter. In the mean- 
while, the volunteers and Twiggs' division, 
under the eye of Gen. Taylor, were to create, at 
the proper time, a strong diversion on the 
enemy's right and front, in order to favor the 
designs of Gen. Worth, by causing the encrny 
to bring forward his forces to the front. 
6* 



ISO REMINISCENCES Of A 

These plans and preliminaries having beeil 
completed, the evening of the 20th found a 
bustling scene in camp. Every regiment, save 
two, vv^as under arm ; squadron after squadron of 
dragoons and rangers, dashing into line, gal- 
loped off towards Monterey ; battery after bat- 
tery of burnished brass, with clattering cars and 
caissons, defiling into the road, followed the 
horsemen ; long lines of infantry, in full uniform 
and with glittering bayonets, debouching from 
the grove, deployed into line and moved off in 
ominous silence. At the head of this column 
rode an officer whose bearing and appearance 
could not fail to mark him a soldier in every 
sense. Of middle stature, and a strong yet neat 
and well proportioned frame, he wore the usual 
undress uniform of the army, and mounted on a 
splendid steed, he kept his seat with the easy 
grace of a consummate horseman. The elegant 
addiess and natural and easy affability with 
which he conversed with his staff displayed all 
the polish of the refined gentleman. Beneath 
his stern, and expansive brow flashed a pair of 
dark, restless eyes, that rolled like liquid fire and 
allowed nothing to escape their observation, and 
when lit by excitement, their piercing glances 
played like living lightning, and seemed to sear 
all they fell upon. This ofiicer was General 
Worth. 

After moving for a mile and a half down the 
road, a portion of the column diverging from 
the road, struck into the chaparrel upon the 
right, while the remainder continued towards 
the city and deployed in front of the town be- 
yond the enemy's guns. This was designed 
merely as a demonstration, in order to cover the 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 131 

Other column from observation and attack while 
crossing the plain ; and it had the desired effect. 
Having perfected this manoeuvre. Gen. Taylor, 
towards night, ordered the demonstrating column 
into camp for the night. 

After deflecting from the main road, General 
Worth continued his march, with Duncan's 
battery and Hays' rangers in the van, and 
making his road at every step over an untravel- 
ed track of country, now clearing away chap- 
arrel, now breaking through strong fences, and 
traversing fields of corn or sugar cane, and now 
bridging ditches for the artillery to cross : but, 
directing his course as far as possible through a 
succession of cultivated fields, he continued to 
remove the obstructions as they presented them- 
selves, and at last, after a march of seven miles, 
reached the Monclova road where it passes 
along the base, of La Mitria, a high mountain 
on the north-west of the city. This road, lead- 
ing between La Mitria and the height of the 
Bishop's Palace, strikes into the Saltillo road a 
mile and a half from the city. After following 
up this road a few hundred yards, they came up- 
on a ranch where they encamped just at dark. 
Two companies of Rangers were now thrown 
forward to make observations, but falling into an 
ambuscade, they fell back with the loss of several 
horses. 

As soon as the camp fires were lighted, the 
height above the Bishop's Palace discovered 
their position, and being withing range, poured 
down shower after shower of grape upon them. 
This caused them to extinguish the fires, and 
cold and supperless, they lay down in the patter- 
ing rain, without blankets, and with only their 



132 REMINISCENCES Of A 

hopes and unquenched spirits to warm and 
sustain them. 

The enemy kept up a scattering fire through 
the night, but without any loss of life on our 
part. Leaving the camp at day-light. General 
Worth again struck into the road, and marching 
under a fire of grape at long range, he steadily 
continued his course towards the Saltillo road. 
Winding along the narrow road where it skirts 
the base of the mountain, he had advanced with- 
in half a mile of the Saltillo road, when the ad- 
vance espied a large body of Mexican cavalry 
down the Saltillo road, watching for a favorable 
opportunity to charge, A line of battle was in- 
stantly formed, and Hays' rangers were thrown 
quietly forward six hundred yards in advance 
of the column and within 200 yards of the junc- 
tion of the two roads. One half of the battalion 
dismounted, and embarked behind the brush 
fence of a field on the left, while the other form- 
ed in the chapal'rel on the right. The column 
was again put in motion, when four regiments of 
lancers were moved forward to the charge. Up, 
up they rolled like a heaving tide, with their 
long lances in rest and gleaming like the spray 
ef the ocean. The regiment in advance had 
swept into the Monelova road, and thundering 
over the ground, was bearing down like an 
avalanche upon the head of the column. A short 
turn in the road brought them within the range 
of the ambuscade, when at the word the unerring 
rifle of the Texans poured on them a volley that 
unhorsed scores of riders and instantly checked 
their advance. But the indomitable Colonel of 
the lancers rallied his men and pressed them to 
the charge, until he fell pierced by several balls. 



CAMf AIGN IN ME^ICJO. 15^ 

Others of our troops had now come up, and the 
action lasted but ten minutes, when the enemy 
precipitately retreated into the chaparrel, and 
made their escape up the steep side of the 
mountain, leaving nearly a hundred killed and 
wounded, with a loss on our side of two men 
killed. The height to the left was playing upon 
our column during the action with shell and 
round shot, but without doing serious damage. 
The three regiments of lancers, which were in 
rear of the first, did not enter the action, but 
bore off up the Saltillo road. 

In a few moments. Gen. Worth was again in 
motion, and moving up the Saltillo road until 
beyond the range of the heights, he encamped 
beside a fine stream, and began to devise plans 
for storming the enemy's height. 



CHAPTER XIV, 



Night before the battle — Melancholy feelings — Morning of the 
21st — Preparations for battle— March forth from Camp — Po- 
sition of the volunteers under Gen. Butler — Position and 
movenaent of the 1st Division unde? Gen. TwiggSf — Ma|^'s 
Dragoons and Woods' Rangers under Gen. Henderson — Op- 
erations of Col. Garland's command — Butler ordered up — ■ 
Quitman's Brigade crossed the plain and charged a fort on 
the north-eastern angle of the city. 

While the column under Gen. Worth was thus 
gallantly encountering and overcoming the ob- 
stacle that opposed the attainment of the posi- 
tion designed as the field of their operations, 
the remainder of the army were quietly await- 



134 REMINISCENCES OF A 

ing the juncture to arrive when they too should 
be put in action. After Gen. Taylor's feint be- 
fore the city on the evening of the 20th, his col- 
umn returned to camp with the consciousness 
that ere they should return again, the posts then 
filled by many a gallant soldier would be vacant. 
Night came and the camp, presented a scene of 
universal solemnity; small squads of friends were 
here and there talking over the probable issue of 
the battle, and communicating messages to be 
delivered to their friends at home in case to 
them the morrow should prove fatal, and some 
strangely imbued with a prescience of their 
death, were busily engaged in writing to their 
absent friends. Such feelings are singularly 
contagious, and under such circumstances as 
these the mind has a peculiar proclivity towards 
them. Notwithstanding the laughs and jests 
with which the camp at first resounded, it was 
plain they emanated only from an effort to parry 
the melancholy thoughts that w^ere forcing them- 
selves on every heart. Anon one stole to the 
side of his friend to unburden to him his irrepres- 
sible thoughts ; another and another followed the 
example — a simultaneous sympathy impressed 
every one — the contagion spread until, like some 
infectious plague, it pervaded every one, and 
plunged the camp into the profoundest melan- 
choly. This was only a temporary exhibition 
of the weakness of humanity. Tattoo sounded 
— the spell was broken — and the soldier was 
himself again, and stoically wrapping in his 
blanket he laid down to sleep in oblivious forget- 
fulness or utter apathy of the morrow. 

During the night the 4th Infantry were de- 
tached to aid in the erection of a battery. This 
battery composed of a ten inch mortar under 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 135 

Captain Ramsey, and two twenty-four pound 
howitzers under Captain Webster, was planted 
fourteen hundred yards north of the city, and 
on the edge of a ravine in front of the Black 
Fort. Morning dawned, and the early bustle in 
camp told that no usual occurrence was at hand. 
The final preparations for battle were making, 
the hour of trial approached, but not one faltered ; 
every heart was nerved, and the calm coUected- 
ness with which each man moved to his duty, 
was an assurance in them, as in the ancient 
Spartans, that they were only vincible in death. 
The long roll sounded, and rank after rank, 
column after column, emerging from the wood, 
silently and steadily closed their serried lines, 
and though many had never yet tx'od an ensan- 
guined field, they moved forward with the firm 
step and quiet confidence of war- trained vete- 
rans, whose breasts had oft been bared to the 
storms of battle, and whose ears had been tuned 
to war's death-fraught thunder. Not a note of 
bugle, drum, or fife was heard, all pomp and 
pageantry were gone — parade had given way to 
sterner stuff*, and that host of breathing courage 
marched forth in all the pride of patriotic strength, 
conscious of victory, but ignorant of its price. 
The sun had risen, and the blue sky was here 
and there dappled with drifting flakes of flocu- 
lent cirri, while the morning vapors were still 
hanging listlessly around the base of the moun- 
tains and enshrouding the city in a mist that was 
soon to give place to the hot sulphurous clouds 
of battle. 

As our army advanced over the plain towards 
the city, by the action of the sun's rays, the low 
mists were slowly lifted from the city and rising 
up hovered like giant spectres around the im- 



1^6 fefcMl^lSCENCES Of A 

pending clifts and peaks, as if loth to leave the 
fair city to its fate. But anon, they swept noise- 
lessly away on the swift wings of the mountain- 
born breeze, which, loading its breast with the 
tribute of the lime and orange groves, bounded 
o'er the homage paying fields, and came hurry^ 
ing away from the tri-colored flag that floated 
o'er the dusky walls of "La Ciudadela," poured 
its balmy fragrance on our line, and kissing 
flag after flag at length nestled in the azure folds 
of our own "Eagle Banner Blue," which, proudly 
floating in the breeze, now waved full before us 
in forceful reminiscence that the hour had come 
for the redemption of those pledges elicited by 
its fair donors. 

As we approached the field, a bomb bursting 
high in air told that om- mortar had opened on 
the city. 

Our division of volunteers now moved up and 
formed in the small hollow in rear of the battery, 
which was now rapidly exchanging shots with 
the "Black Fort." The first division of the reg- 
ulars, under Gen. Twiggs, comprised two brig- 
ades, the 1st under Lieut. Col. Garland, contain- 
ing the third and fourth Infantry, and Captain 
Bragg's Flying Artillery. The 2nd under Lieut. 
Col. Wilson, consisting of the first Infantry, and 
the Washington and Baltimore battalion of vol- 
unteers. This command had preceded us from 
camp, and, before reaching the battery they 
made a detour to the left, and moving on the 
eastern angle of the town had formed under 
cover of some fields. Lieut. Col. May's 2nd 
dragoons and Wood's regiment of rangers un- 
der Gen. Henderson, were ordered to the right 
to assist Gen. Worth, if necessary, and if prac- 
ticable to make an attempt on the upper portion 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 137 

of the city, between the Bishop's palace and the 
Black Fort. 

Gen. Taylor had not designed an assault on 
our side of the city, but wished only to make a 
strong demonstration in order that Gen. Worth 
might take advantage of the diversion to assail 
the enemy's positions adjacent to his quarters. 
Pursuant to this intention, Lieut. Col. Garland, 
with the first division (Gen. Twiggs being sick) 
was ordered to approach the lower or northeast- 
ern end of the city, and to threaten the enemy in 
that direction, and if possible without much loss 
to carry some of the works in that quarter. 
Under these orders Col. Garland advanced to- 
wards the point designated. The engineers and 
skirmishers having been thrown forward consid- 
erably in advance of the comm.and, had succeeded 
in entering the town in front to the right of the 
north-eastern angle of the city. The rest of 
the column soon followed, but were received 
with a heavy fire from all sides. Pushing fear- 
lessly forward, they attempted by a deflection 
through the suburbs to the right to gain the rear 
of the fort on the right angle and carry it, but 
the enemy kept up such a galling fire from the 
works and the houses, that this attempt was 
deemed impracticable, and the whole command 
fell back under cover of the houses and walls, 
after a sharp action of half an hour. In the 
meantime, our division had been quietly resting 
on our arms in rear of the battery, whilst the 
enemy's round shot were whizzing incessantly 
over our heads : as yet we had not seen one 
drop of blood shed, but anon a round shot, strik- 
ing a gunner, carried away his leg. Those are 
strange feelings that come over one when he 
sees the first fruits of battle, and I shall never 



138 REMINISCENCES OF A 

forget the thrill -that pervaded oui' whole division 
as that soldier, with his mangled limb, was borne 
along our lines. The shot flying over head, 
made the hearts of some feel faint, but at this 
sight every other feeling seemed merged in 
vengeance. While our blood was thus boiling 
in our veins a brisk, sharp firing of musketry, 
intermingled with occasional discharges of ar- 
tillery told us that Col. Garland was engaged. 

Our division, with Hamer, with the Kentuck- 
ians and Ohioans, on the right, and Quitman 
with the Tennesseans and Mississippians on the 
left, stood in breathless anxiety awaiting orders. 
The intermitting thunder of the cannon and the 
incessant roar of small arms, waxing louder and 
fiercer, told that the action w^as raging furiously. 
"Load in double quick time" rang along our line, 
and the sharp click of the locks and simultaneous 
ringing of the rammers showed with what spirit 
the order was obeyed. Another moment, and 
the "Left face, double quick time, forward march!" 
was heard, and the Tennesseeans being ordered 
to file past the Mississippians, gained the front, 
and hailing the welcome word "march !" sprang 
forward with a long and loud huzza. The Mis- 
sissippi regiment dashed after us, and we moved 
oflT at a brisk run in the direction of the firing. 
A portion of the 4th Infantry, with the Ohioans, 
pressed forward too, to join in the action, leaving 
the Kentuckians in charge of the battery. Two 
hundred yards brought the head of our column 
upon the open plain, and in a moment the 
"Black Fort," shrouded in smoke, was blazing 
like a volcano, and its angry missiles came 
whizzing and whirling about our ranks and tear- 
ing up the earth, ricocheted over our heads and 
rolled along the plain. Quickening our already 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 139 

rapid pace, we dashed on through the thorny 
shurbs, while new forts on our front and flank 
poured on our eolumn a perfect hurricane of 
balls, that howled and hissed around in fearful 
dissonance. Shot after shot crashing through 
our ranks or enfilading our line, strewed its path- 
way with mangled bodies, shattered limbs, and 
headless trunks ; but, unheeding all, on we rushed 
over dead and wounded, and with reckless im- 
petuosity continued with unslackened speed to- 
wards the enemy. 

Nearly twenty cannon were mowing down our 
ranks, strewing our course with dead and 
wounded, but with the foe in front and the 
dauntless Quitman at our head, none dared to 
falter. A mile we had passed over in this hot 
haste, when we were suddenly thrown in front 
of a fort on the angle of the town some five 
hundred yards off'; this was to the men unex- 
pected, but nothing daunted we passed on 
through thorns and grape shot. It now became 
evident that the attempt of the regulars had 
failed, and that Col. Garland was retiring. No- 
thing distressed by this, however, we bore di- 
rectly down on the fort until within two hundred 
yards of its guns, when "Halt and fire," emanat- 
ing from some subaltern, rang along our line 
as we were rapidly forming for a charge. Quick 
as the word, our column halted and commenced 
a brisk fire upon the fort. This unfortunate 
order proved horribly fatal ; within range of two 
forts, and with the cross fire from the "Black 
Fort," our little band was fast melting away like 
frost before the sun ; yet, firm to their duty they 
stood under the very mouths of the cannon, and 
continued this ineftectual fire against the walls 
of that fort. In vain our officers gave orders to 



140 REMINISCENCES OF A 

cease ; in vain did the stern Campbell, burning 
with anguish and impatience, lift his voice amidst 
the din of arms and cry "charge." In vain the 
gallant Anderson, though calm and collected, 
called out in the bitterness of the moment, "For- 
ward men ! will you let your banner go down in 
disgrace." It was in vain the unblenching adju- 
tant galloped up and down to restore order ; all 
words and orders were lost and drowned in the 
roar of battle and the shrieks of the dying. One 
after one our men were cut down ; Allen, Allison, 
Green, and a host of other noble spirits in our 
gallant regiment sunk beneath that destructive 
fire. It was but a few minutes that this con- 
tinued. At length, in a partial cessation of the 
fire our Colonel ordered the charge, and Welling- 
ton's "Up guards, and at them !" was not more 
promptly obeyed. The gallant Cheatham, catch- 
ing the order, sprung forward to the charge, 
crying out, "Come on, men ! follow me !" Capts. 
McMurry, Foster, all simultaneously sprang for- 
ward, and we rushed up to the cannon's mouth 
like very devils, in the face of a shower of balls 
and grape shot. The enemy fired their last gun 
as we leaped the ditch, and when we scaled the 
parapet, where Lieut. Nixon, the first to gain 
the fort, was waving his sword, we found the 
enemy flying pell mell in every direction. Halt- 
ing but a moment in their fort, we rushed on to 
another about forty yards distant, where the 
Mississippians captured some thirty prisoners. 
In a moment after the charge, the "Eagle Ban- 
ner Blue" of Tennessee was floating proudly 
over the ramparts as the first American flag 
that ever waved over the city of Monterey. 
During the action the noble regiment of Missis- 
sippians were hard on our right and rear, and 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 141 

in the charge they came up gallantly to our 
support, and we had scarcely gained the front 
parapet ere the gallant McClung, with the Mis- 
sippians leaped upon the side fronting the "Black 
Fort;" but seeing another fort in rear of the 
first, still in the enemy's possession, he charged 
i on towards that, and just as he reached the en- 
' trance to the fort he was struck down by a ball. 
Tennesseeans and Mississippians rushing in to- 
gether soon overwhelmed the enemy and made 
them surrender. During this time, another fort, 
(Diabolo,) some three hundred yards in the rear 
of the other forts, was pouring upon us an inces- 
I sant fire, and we were ordered to move forward 
' and carry it ; but while a small party of us were 
' pushing on to execute the order, it was counter- 
I manded and we were ordered under cover. 



\ CHAPTER XV. 

{ Movement of Gen. Butler and the Ohioans— He enters the city 
under a destructive fire — He is ordered to fall back — Again 
entering the city, he attempts "El Diabolo" — Butler and 
Mitchell wounded, and the withdrawal of their command — 
Recall of the troops — Charge of the Lancers — Return to 
camp— The "bloody first"— Night after the battle— March 
again to the field on the 22d — Inaction of this day — The 
23d — Take possession of "Diabolo" — Gen, Quitman brings 
on the action — The Texans — Recall of the troops and return 
to camp. 

While Quitman's brigade was thus engaged, 
General Butler, at the head of the Ohio regi- 
ment, under Gen. Hamer, after following in 
our rear for a considerable distance, diverged 
from our course and entered the town in front, 



] 42 REMINISCENCES OF A 

where they had been preceded by the companies 
of the 4th Infantry, which had moved up from 
the mortar battery. This command penetrating 
to the right of the work upon which we were 
moving and proceeding cautiously along, en- 
deavored ineffectually to gain a position whence 
they could return the galling fire of the enemy ; 
but the enemy, hid behind the houses and breast- 
works, as well from their musketry as their ar- 
tillery at the tete du pont of St. Mary's bridge, 
were pouring a severe and efficient fire upon 
the command. Undaunted, Gen. Butler still 
perseveringly endeavored to force his way into 
the city, when he was met by Major Mansfield 
of the Engineers, who advised him to withdraw 
his force, or they would inevitably be cut to 
pieces. General Taylor, who was a short dis- 
tance in the rear of Gen. Butler, being informed 
of the advice, ordered Gen. Butler to fall back 
under cover. 

It was just at this juncture that our brigade 
succeeded in carrying the first fort, and General 
Taylor being immediately apprised of the fact 
forthwith ordered Gen. Butler to resume his ad- 
vance. Entering the city farther to the left than 
before, Gen. Butler resolved to storm, with the 
Ohioans, the second fort, or ''El Diabolo." 
Pressing forward to the charge through a mur- 
derous fire, the regiment had advanced within 
a short distance of the fort when Gen. Butler 
was wounded, and Col. Mitchell, falling at the 
same time, it was thought advisable to withdraw 
the command. 

By this time, the various commands had be- 
come broken and scattered, and parties of every 
regiment had become so intimately amalgamated 
that it was difficult to resolve them into their 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 143 

proper commands. The men thus scattered in 
the town maintained for several hours an irregu- 
lar fire from the cover of houses, walls, and 
fences ; but the distance and secure position of 
the enemy rendered their fire harmless and un- 
availing. While this desultory combat continued, 
a body of a thousand lancers made their ap- 
pearance on the right in the skirts of the city ; 
sweeping over the ground at full speed, they 
lanced with merciless cruelty all the wounded 
within their course, and came thundering down 
upon a body of Ohioans and Mississippians, who, 
forming a ready front, poured such a destructive 
volley on the enemy that they immediately 
checked their charge and fell back into the city. 
Notwithstanding the heroic Ridgely had turned 
the guns of the captured fort upon the enemy, 
and with these and his own battery, aided by 
Capt. Webster's two twenty-four pounder howit- 
zers, was thundering away upon the "Diabolo," 
every effort to silence that fort was vain ; for the 
"Devil's Den," as our men termed it, with the 
forts in its rear, and the battery at St. Mary's 
Bridge, continued with an obstinate virulence 
worthy of its name, to pour unremitting dis- 
charges of grape and canister, wherever a single 
man was visible. 

Finding that his men were fast falling in this 
irregular mode of warfare, General Taylor 
determined to collect as many of the men as pos- 
sible, and make an attempt on some of the works. 
The approach to 'Diabolo' and the works in that 
direction, was covered by twenty-five hundred of 
the enemy's picked Infantry, who, from behind 
their defences, were sweeping with a storm of 
bullets every street in that quarter. General 
Taylor, therefore, relinquished all designs on that 



144 REMINISCENCES OF A 

quarter and directed his attention towards the 
bridge. Col. Garland was ordered to collect as 
many as possible of his command and move up 
to the right of the bridge to make an attempt to 
turn it and carry it from the rear. Capt Ridgely, 
with a section of his battery, under the support 
of the Tennftsseans, was ordered to advance up 
one of the longitudinal streets, and second the 
attempt of Col. Garland. Col. Garland, with 
the First, Third and Fourth Infantry, the Balti- 
more battalion, and fragments of other regiments, 
crossing the traverse street, commanded by the 
bridge, under a terrible fire of grape moved 
around to the right, while Capt. Ridgely, sup- 
ported by our regiment, unlimbered within two 
hundred yards of the bridge, and commenced a 
brisk cannonade upon the work. Col. Garland 
strove in vain to turn the battery; the deep 
stream across which the bridge was thrown 
effectually precluded all further progress in that 
direction, and after a spirited but fruitless 
attempt, the attack was abandoned and the 
whole force ordered back to the captured fort. 
This was the last attempt of the day, but scat- 
tered parties here and there from their covert 
still continued an irregular fire, until the day 
was far spent, when the recall was sounded and 
the troops in broken squads began to leave their 
cover and fall back upon the plain. Twelve 
hundred lancers who had been hovering in the 
rear of fort 'Diabolo,' observing this movement 
and taking our apparent confusion for precipitate 
retreat, now spurred forward, and crossing the 
San Juan in spiended order, came forward at full 
speed to fall upon our disordered ranks. Their 
loud shouts and "corajor" immediately directed 
the attention of our men towards them. Spon- 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 145 

taneously and mechanically, we rushed into line 
and were rapidly forming into square to meet 
the charge, when Ridgely, bringing his howitzers 
to bear on them, poured a well directed fire of 
shells into their very midst, which, hurling riders 
and horses twenty feet in air as they exploded, 
immediately checked their advance, and drove 
them back as rapidly as they came forward. 
Withdrawing a mile from the fort, our regiment 
formed and moved back towards the fort, while 
the shot from the Black Fort were still howling 
over head. Leaving a portion of the Kentucky 
regiment and the regular infantry, with Ridgely's 
battery and Woods' rangers, to guard the cap- 
tured fort, our regiment — a mere fragment — took 
its way towards the city. 

The noble Cheatham volunteered, with char- 
acteristic courage and humanity, to remain with 
a detail and bring in our wounded, who, during 
the long and arduous conflict of the day lay 
where they fell upon the field. ' It was pitiable 
to look upon our gallant regiment: of three 
hundred that had that morning entered the field, 
more than one third had fallen. 

As our shattered column left the field, the sun 
had sunk, and here ceased the eventful drama of 
this bloody day. But how different the entrance 
and exit of the actors on this sanguinary stage ! 
The morning had seen our columns, with full 
ranks, come forth in the buoyancy of busy life, 
haiUng with glad shouts and blenchless hearts 
the first roar of the battle. The evening found 
the field all strewed with ghastly dead and pros- 
trate wounded, bathed in pools of blood ; while 
the surviving remnant slowly, but sternly still, 
drew off* to commence anew the conflict with 
the morrow. Death had reaped a rich harvest 



146 REMINISCENCES OF A 

here, and many a proud e3^e that watched the 
morning sun garnish the mountain chifs with 
gorgeoiis splendor, long ere its setting had been 
sealed in the red death of battle. 

It required stern hearts to breast all day the 
iron storm that mowed comrade down by com- 
rade's side ; but these were stern hearts, and 
each survivor felt the mantle of his dying com- 
rade's courage fall on him. Our own proud re- 
giment, foremost among the bravest, baptized 
in its own blood, came forth from this onset the 
^'Bloody First" — a cognomen significant of its 
fearful christening. 

Night set in long ere our wounded had been 
lifted from their gory beds. And such a night. 
The heavens were "hung in black," and seemed 
to weep at the awful havoc the destroyer had 
made. A cold and pitiless rain fell in drenching 
torrents, and rendered the miseries of all still 
more acute ; but still the noble and kind-hearted 
Cheatham, with a few others groped their way 
about in the moonless gloom hunting up the 
wounded by their groans ; while the pattering 
of the rain was now and then hushed by the 
heavy boom of cannon, and the sky was ever 
and anon lit up for a minute by rockets of the 
enemy, which, whizzing high into the air and 
leaving a long train of liquescent light, burst into 
a score of varicolored scintillations. Those who 
had been left to guard the fort, worn, wearied, 
and hungry, were compelled to pass the weary 
hours of the night without even the luxury of a 
blanket. Wagon after wagon came lumbering 
into the camp loaded with the wounded, who 
shrieked at every jolt. 

That was an awful night. In the heat of battle, 
we are unappalled by any scene of suftering, but 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 147 

when the brunt is over and the blood is cold, it 
unnerves the heart to hear from every side the 
groans and cries of the wounded wretches. 
Who could sleep amidst such scenes and sounds 
as in every tent greeted our eyes and ears ? 

The long and sleepless hours of that tedious 
night at length rolled by, and we were again 
ordered to the lield ; and our brigade, with greatly 
diminished numbers, marched out. As soon as 
the brigade came within range of the enemy's 
guns they were opened upon it, but with little 
effect, killing two and wounding three of the 
Mississippi regiment. On reaching the fort, 
Gen. Quitman took possession, and relieved all 
the other troops there except Gapt. Ridgely, who 
still remained ; while Capt. Bragg took posses- 
sion in the suburbs of the town, to the right, to 
meet any attack in that quarter. 

The day was wet and dreary, and though the 
enemy's shot and shells were constantly flying, 
yet on our side of the city no attempt was made 
to occupy farther positions ; and the enemy's 
firing was without injury to us, and was only 
answered occasionally by the gallant Ridgley. 
This heroic young officer seemed the very soul of 
chivalry. War was his element. During the fear- 
ful action of the 21st one would have thought 
him invulnerable to have seen him dash right 
up into the very face of a hail-storm of balls, 
unheeding and unhurt. His cheering words and 
loud laugh were heard even in the thickest of 
the fight, and inspirited all within hearing. 

At dark all the brigade was di^awn into the 
fort, and the night passed off even worse than 
the preceding one. Cold, wet, and supperless, 
our men sat down in the deep mud and awaited 



14S feEMlNISCENCES OF A 

day light, while the enemy illuminated the night 
with varicolored rockets. 

Early on the morning of the 22d, General 
Quitman discovered that the enemy had aban- 
doned Fort Diabolo during the night, and he im- 
mediately ordered a portion of his command to 
take possession of it, which was promptly done. 
Gen. Quitman, having discretionary orders to 
maintain his position or advance upon the town, 
about eleven o'clock ordered Col. Davis, with 
two companies of his regiment, and Lieut. CoL 
Anderson, with two companies of Tennesseeans, 
to enter the town and bring on an attack. From 
house to house and wall to wall, this command 
fought its way into the city, incurring but slight 
loss, yet driving the Mexicans steadily before 
them, until they penetrated so far that they 
were nearly surrounded by the enemy. Gen. 
Taylor coming up, and finding things in this 
posture, immediately ordered Gen. Henderson, 
with Woods' regiment of rangers, who were 
near at hand, to dismount and reinforce the ad- 
vancijig force of Gen. Quitman. This was the 
first opportunity for action that this regiment 
had had, and they proceeded with alacrity to 
obey the order. It was but a few minutes after 
the issue of this order ere the Texans w^ere rush- 
ing into the streets like unchained lions, and the 
sharp cracking of their rifles began to sound the 
death knell to many a Mexican. "Goliad and 
Alamo !" was their battle cry, and fighting after 
their own fashion, on they rushed from street to 
street, passing from yard to yard, bursting open 
the doors, breaking through the solid walls, 
climbing to the flat roofs of the houses, and 
pouring at every point an unerring fire where- 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 149 

ever a Mexican was visible. AVhatever other 
troops may accomplish in the field or in the 
charge, yet in this mode ol fighting the Texans 
are infinitely superior to every other corps. The 
fearful havoc they made upon the enemy told 
with what unremitting ardor and fierce venge- 
ance they fought. By five o'clock, the troops 
had forced their way through walls and houses 
into the very heart of the city, and had already 
advanced within a hundred and fifty yards of 
the main plaza where the enemy had concen- 
trated from all parts of the city. A few steps 
farther, and the crowded masses of the enemy 
would have been under the deadly and devas- 
tating fire of the Texan rifle. At this prospect 
of dealing a speedj^ and terrible retribution for 
their manifold injuries, the sturdy Texans worked 
with renewed spirit and activity to force their 
way to the desired position, while the Mississip- 
pians and Tennesseeans moved on shoulder to 
shoulder with them. Just at this jiiincture, Gen. 
Taylor, without being fully aware of the posture 
of affairs, unfortunately issued orders for the 
troops to retire. Reluctantly, but in good order, 
the advancing forces relinquished their positions, 
and fell back. I say this order was unfortunate, 
for, without our knowledge, the troops under 
Gen, Worth, hearing the continuous firing on 
our side, and rightly divining the cause, had 
pushed forward with emulous ardor, and had en 
their side attained a position equidistant with 
our own from the plaza. Had our force not 
been recalled, in less than an hour the compact 
bodies of the enemy would have been under the 
withering fire of the two divisions, and they 
would have been left to the alternative of anni- 
hilation or surrender, and at their discretion they 



150 REMINISCENCES OF A 

would undoubtedly have chosen the latter uncon- 
ditionalty. Returning ta the forts, the troops 
who had been on duty were relieved by Gen. 
Hamer's brigade, and our brigade retired to camp 
after thirty-six hours' laborious duty. Here end- 
ed the 23d, and with it ended on our side of the 
city all operations against the enemy. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Operations of Gen. Worth — The enemy's works on the west of 
thacity — Storming of Federacion and Said ado — Morning of 
the 22d, and the storming of Independencia — Taking the 
Bishop's Palace — The 23d, and Worth's advance into the 
city — Major Munroe plants his mortar — Proposal to surren- 
der — Commissioners appointed — Surrender and evacuation of 
the . city. 

While the first and volunteer divisions, un- 
der the eye of General Taylor, were gaining at 
a dear cost, their advantages on the east side 
of the city, the second division, under General 
AVorth, was sweeping the enemy from his heights 
on the west and rear wdth a promptitude and 
success, alike evincive of sagacity in the leader 
and gallantry in the corps. 

After the repulse of the lancers on the morn- 
ing of the 21st, Gen. Worth had moved up the 
Saltillo road, where he had fixed his headquar- 
ters and commenced a reconnoissance of his 
ground. 

Upon a detached spur of La Mitria, obliquely 
to his left, were situated Fort Independencia and 
the Bishop's Palace. The first was immediately 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 151 

on the summit of the ridge, and seven or eight 
hmidred feet above the river, while the Bishop's 
Palace was situated several hundred yards far- 
ther down the crest of the ridge, where it sloped 
down towards the city. Opposite the height, 
and across the San Juan, was a long ridge upon 
which was situated Fort Federacion, and a little 
farther on towards the city was a crescent 
shaped work called "El Soldado." These last 
works, from their proximity, so much harassed 
Gen. Worth's command that he determined to 
carry them at once. 

The approaches and situation of these works 
having been closely examined, at 12 o'clock, 
Captain C. F. Smith, with four light companies 
from the artillery battalion, and six companies 
of rangers, under Major Chevalier, was ordered 
to cross the river, and carry successively Federa- 
cion and Soldado. As it was impossible to 
avoid observation, Captain Smith moved directly 
across the stream, and approached the height. 
Anticipating the object of the movement, the 
light troops of the enemy descended from the 
works and formed along the slopes of the ac- 
clivity. Gen. Worth's quick eye perceived this 
disposition of the enemy, and he immediately 
ordered out the 7th inflmtry, under Capt. Miles 
to aid in the assault. Moving rapidly forward 
by a more direct rou^e, Capt. Miles reached the 
base of the mountain before Capt. Smith. In 
conjunction the two forces now commenced the 
ascent. Small detachments were thrown for- 
ward, and deploying as sldrmishers, engaged 
the advance of the enemy. Soon the action 
became general. From slope to slope, from 
bench to bench, our troops clambered up the 
steep hill side ; now leaping from rock to rock, 



1 52 REMINISCENCES OF A 

now swinging themselves forward by the shrubs 
and chaparrel. A terrible task would have been 
this ascent even without arms and unopposed, 
but thirty hom*s of fast, fatigue, and exposure, 
served only to arouse more fully the spirits of 
our men ; the sturdy Texan, inured to hardship, 
clambered upward with the agility of a chamois, 
and the regulars, animated by this example, 
kept side by side with them. Like a fiery ser- 
pent, the column of assailers wound up the hill, 
circling it in a wreath of flame as volley after 
volley was poured on the yielding lines of the 
enemy. Slowly, but steadily, our troops forced 
their way up, the enemy reluctantly yielding 
inch by inch. The contest had now lasted more 
than half an hour, when the enemy were rein- 
forced by Rye hundred troops. Observing these 
reinforcements advancing to the height, Gen. 
Worth forthwith dispatched Gen. Persifor F. 
Smith, with the 5th infantry, under Major Scott, 
and Blanchard's Louisiana company, as a sup- 
port to Capt. Smith's force. Gen. Smith pressed 
forward, and du-ected his attention to El Soldado, 
while Captain Smith's command continued to 
drive the enemy before them until, gaining the 
summit, they dashed impetuously upon the fort, 
and as the fugitive garrison fled precipitately 
down the opposite side of the hill, they tore 
down the tricolored flag and flung the stars and 
stripes in triumph to the mountain breeze. 

But few moments were allowed for respite 
as Scott, Blanchard, and Col. Hays, who had 
now joined them, were now pushing on Soldado 
six hundred yards from Federacion. Captain 
Smith ordered forward his. men, and had the 
nine pounders captured on Federacion run down 
the slope and opened on the other work. Each 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO- 



I53 



command was anxious to have the honor of 
capturing the work, and it became an exciting 
contest as to who should firt reach the forts. On 
they rushed from either side, and eager for the 
prize of honor, balls and bayonets alike were 
unheeded. The enemy unable to resist such 
impetuous combatants, left their fort and fled 
down the hill into the city as the two commands 
simultaneously reached the fort* Here they 
captured another nine pounder. 

Notwithstanding the long and obstinate re- 
sistance of the enemy, our loss in storming the 
works w^as astonishingly small, amounting only 
to fifteen killed and wounded. Night now closed 
in cold, dark and stormy, and again without food 
or shelter, our troops threw themselves upon the 
hard earth to sleep as best they could after the 
fatigues and dangers of the day. Gen. Worth 
now determined to carry Independencia on his 
left under cover of the night. A command was 
organized, consisting of one company of the 3d 
and two of the 4th artillery, as light troops, 
with three companies of the 8th infantry and 
two hundred Texans under Hays and Walker. 
This was to comprise the assaulting force, and 
at 3 o'clock in the morning they were aroused 
and placed under Lieut. Col. Childs. Un<fer 
the guidance of the engineer, the command 
proceeded to the proper point and commenced 
the toilsome ascent. 

The night was peculiarly favorable for such 
an enterprise, and had the ascent not been ar- 
duous beyond expectation, the attempt would 
have resulted in a complete camisade. Hid 
from observation by the lurid darkness these 
untiring spirits, whom neither hunger nor fatigue 
could overcome, began their toilsome task. Cau- 
7* 



154 llEMINISCENCES OV A 

tiously and silently they moved up through the 
gloom, Avhile the pattering rain and howling 
blast hushed to the ears of the enemy the 
rattling of the armor. Not a word vv'as spoken, 
save vrhen the low orders were whispered along 
the line, or some soldier slipping among the jag- 
ged rocks let slip some half muttered oath. 
Thus they had toiled on until the first streaks of 
dawn found them within a hundred yards of 
the summit. A large body of the enemy, lodged 
among the clefts of rocks along the brow of 
the height, as they perceived in the dim mists 
of the morning the indistinct forms of our troops, 
moving up like apparitions towards them, hur- 
riedly discharged their pieces and rushed into 
the fort, where they were followed by a volley 
from the assailants, and in a moment more, 
with a resistless rush, the clubbed rifle of the 
Texans emulated the bayonets of the regulars 
in clearing the fort. Another moment; and the 
loud Anglo-Saxon yell announced to our anxious 
troops below, that their comrades were again 
victorious, but the spirit of the gallant Gillespie 
v/ent upwards in the shout. 

The enemy had previously withdrawn their 
artillery from Independencia, and without artil- 
lery it was found impracticable to make any im- 
pression on the Bishop's Palace. Lieut. Roland 
was therefore ordered to ascend the height with 
one of Duncan's twelve pound howitzers, and in 
two hours fifty men had hoisted the piece up to 
the top of the ridge, and under cover of an 
epaulment, an efficient fire was opened on the 
Palace. Major Scott, with the 5th infantry, and 
Blanchard's volunteers, now arriving from Fed- 
eracion height, the force was deemed sufficiently 
strong to attempt the Palace. 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 155 

The light troops of the enemy had several 
times sallied from the Palace, and threatened 
our troops in the fort. Anticipating a repetition 
of this, Col. Childs, by a judicious disposal of 
his force, again drew the enemy from the Palace, 
who advancing under a strong support of cav- 
alry, met with such a heavy discharge of mus- 
ketry and rifles that they fled in disorder to the 
Palace. Like a torrent of lava, our troops, 
firing at every step, poured down the slope, and 
rushed in after the retreating enemy. In an 
instant the works were carried, and the heroic 
Lieut. AyreS, mounting the walls of the Palace, 
tore down the Mexican flag and unfurled the 
stars and stripes above the city. 

Duncan's and Mackall's field batteries, with 
the three pieces captured in the Palace, were 
now turned on the enemy, who were rush- 
ing headlong down the hill, over the rugged pro- 
jections of the inverted stones. General Worth 
now concentrated his division around the Pal-* 
ace, and began to make active preparations for 
assaulting the city, which now lay directly un- 
der him. 

Early on the morning of the 23d, Gen. Worth 
made the proper disposition of his force, and 
was anxiously awaiting orders from the General- 
in-chief ; but hearing the firing on the east end 
of the town, he immediately ordered two col- 
umns of light troops to advance into the city by 
the two main streets, while Duncan's and Mac- 
kall's batteries moved after by sections, and the 
supporters commanded the head of every cross- 
street to secure the columns from flank attacks 
of cavalry. Pushing on from street to street, 
the column at length approached the first plaza, 
called "La Chapala." Here the enemy had 



155 REMINISCENCES OF A 

posted themselves inside the walls of the ceme- 
tary ; but they were soon driven from this point, 
and our troops continued to force their way into 
the heart of the city, breaking through longitu- 
dinal walls and fighting from house top to house 
top. And here again the rangers were most 
efhcient, and the rifles of Hays' and McCulloch's 
men piled the dead by scores upon the house 
tops. 

The veteran Major Monroe now came up with 
the ten inch mortar, and selecting a position in 
the cemetary, made preparations to put it in 
operation. By dark, the light troops had wormed 
their way so far into the city that only one 
square separated them from the main plaza. 
The mortar now opened on the main plaza, but 
the shell falling rather short of the mark, 
dropped beside our advanced forces, and retard- 
ed their progress ; but again it opened, and 
during the night it continued to do terrible ex- 
ecution among the dense bodies of the enemy, 
eight thousand of w^hom were now crowded into 
the grand plaza. During the night our advance 
still held their position, and one six pounder and 
tw^o twelve pound howitzers were sent forward, 
and being forced through the streets, and at ex- 
posed points through solid walls, they w^ere 
mounted on the fiat roof of a house, and by 
morning only a slight w^all had to be cleared 
away, when the commingled masses of the en- 
emy, in the plaza, w^ould have been beneath a 
point blank fire of grape and slu^apnel. 
., Shortly after the night set in, Gen. Ampudia, 
finding that another day would end in his total 
defeat, if not annihilation, despatched Colonel 
Moreno to Gen. Worth, to negotiate a surrender 
of the city. CoL Moreno remained during the 



fcAMPAlGN IN MEXICO. 157 

hight with Gen. Worth, and early on the 24th 
proceeded to Gen. Taylor's headquarters. All 
active operations were ordered to cease on both 
sides, and commissioners were appointed to rep- 
resent the two belligerent armies. The Mexican 
commission consisted of Senores Ortega, Reque- 
na, and Llano; while Gen. Worth, Gen. Hender» 
son, and Col. Davis represented the American 
army. The commissioners met, and after ex- 
treme difficulty concluded the capitulation upon 
terms of liberality to the Mexican army. Pur-^ 
suant to the terms of capitulation, the citadel, 
the only fort remaining in the hands of the ene- 
my, was on the 28th delivered into our posses- 
sion, and for several dayts the different divisions 
of the army of Ampudia successively retired 
from the city, and took the road towards Saltillo. 
Gen. Worth was in the meanwhile appointed 
military governor of the city, and after the evac- 
uation of the city by the enemy, took quiet pos- 
session and entered upon the discharge of his 
duty. 

The acceptance of the capitulation of Monte- 
rey, under the circumstances, has been the sub- 
ject of much comment, and it has been by many, 
as I think, justly censured. . When the fact and 
the terms were announced, they met with a 
burst of universal indignation and disapproba- 
tion from the army, and though time and sub- 
sequent events and developments tended par» 
tially to allay these feelings, yet with the main 
body of the army engaged in that siege this 
capitulation has not yet ceased to call forth 
animadversions and regrets. We had just suc- 
ceeded in wresting from the enemy every w^ork 
save one ; this had been achieved at a fearful 
cost on our side, 'tis true ;^but having gained 



1d8 reminiscences oi^ A 

these we now had the advantage of position, 
and with but little loss or exposure to ourselves, 
we could wreak terrible retaliation upon the 
enemy. For the principal loss of the enemj^ it 
is well known, was effected in the street fights 
of the 23d, while our own loss during the same 
day was comparatively nothing. The two di- 
visions of the army penetrating the town, the 
one on the east, the other on the west, had on 
the 23d driven the enemy into the centre of the 
city, while they had obtained effective and 
equidistant positions on opposite sides of the 
point of concentration, and in a short time the 
enemy would have been under the cross-fires of 
the two divisions. It has been urged in defence 
of the measure, that the enemy had possession 
of the citadel or " Black Fort," and that it might 
have cost us much blood to have captured it. 
The position of our troops under Worth and the 
General-in chief was such as to isolate the 
"Black Fort, " and almost completely to surround 
the main plaza, and it was here the body of the 
Mexican army was assembled, and it would 
have required but a simple manoeuvre to have 
prevented their access to the citadel. Once in 
possession of the cit}^ and the garrison of the 
Black Fort could soon have been starved into 
terms. 

Again, it is said that the enemy could have 
made his escape, and that the moral effect of 
the capitulation was greater than if the enemy 
had retired without our consent. It is deemed 
extremely questionable whether the enemy could 
have made his escape at all, and had it been 
accomplished, it would have been at the inevi- 
table sacrifice of all his artillery, and subse- 
quently the dispersion of his forces; and who 



UAMi^AtGN IN MEXICO. 159 

doubts than an escape with such effects would 
have been infinitely more beneficial to us than 
such a capitulation? and what could be more 
demoralizing to an army than to be compelled 
to retire from a fortified city, and give it up to an 
army of not half their number? vSo the argu- 
ment upon the moral effect of the capitulation 
falls to the ground ; and, indeed every attempt 
to defend this capitulation only makes it less 
defensible. The same troops that evacuated 
Montere}^ afterwards contending against Taylor 
at Buena Vista, forcibly prove the moral effects 
of the capitulation. As for.the plea of liberality 
and humanity, subsequent events have shown 
them to be but poor virtues and worse policy, 
when they are, at such a fearful cost of blood, 
thrown away upon an enemy so little capable 
of appreciating them. 

It is a fact beyond dispute, that with the posi- 
tions which we had in our possession on the 
night of the 23d, the enemy could not have held 
out another day. Gen. Taylor states in his re- 
port: "I felt confident, that with a strong force 
occupying the roads and heights in his rear, and 
a good position below the city in our possession, 
the enemy could not possibly maintain the town." 
Here, then, surrender or flight must have ensued 
a continuation of the conflict, and either would 
have been alike disastrous to the enemy and 
beneficial to our arms. 

It was the army of Ampudia that formed the 
nucleus of Santa Anna's army at San Louis, and 
had the force been compelled to suriender, or 
been forced into flight and dispersion, it would 
either have totally obviated the sanguinary con- 
flict of Buena Vista, or would have rendered the 
odds in that battle immensely less. 



160 REMINISCENCES OF* A 

The attack upon Monterey without an ade- 
quate siege train has likewise called forth the 
severest strictures. It was an error, and a 
lamentable one, that the commander-in-chief 
had fallen into with regard to the resistance of 
the enemy. He had openly and perseveringly 
maintained that the enemy would evacuate the 
city on our approach; and it is mainly attribu- 
table to this fact, that our army was so ill-provi- 
ded with heavy guns in this attack. That there 
was a sufficiency of heavy guns at Camargo 
when the column left that place, is a fact cog- 
nizant to the whole army. 

But it has been urged in extenuation of this 
matter, by those too little conversant w'ith the 
facts, that it would have been impossible to have 
found means for the transportation of these guns. 
Passing over the military maxim that " there 
are no impossibilities in war," nothing would 
have been easier than to have found the requisite 
transportation for a siege train. The banks of 
the Rio Grande w^ere teeming with immense 
herds of mules and horses, and in two weeks 
two thousand of them could have been rendered 
fit for service. Apart from these, the pack 
mules that carried the knapsacks of the men, 
might easily have been dispensed with, and ap- 
propriated to the use of the artillery. 



CAMPAIGN IxV MEXICO. 161 



CHAPTER XVII. 



Burial of the dead— The First Regiment — Campbell, Anderson, 
Alexander, and Heiman — Animadversions on the capitulation 
' — Remarks upon the lack of siege guns. 

While the negotiations was pending on the 
, 25th, details were sent out to peiiorm the last 
I sad office to our gallant dead. Moving over the 
I field under the protection of white flags, they 
; proceeded to their melancholy duty. Scooping 
1 a shallow grave in a stony soil, they interred 
one after one the moldering corpses, upon the 
( spot where each had fallen, without even the 
I ordinary ceremonies that attend a soldier's bu- 
• rial, and with no requiem save the thunder of 
I three days' battle. Mournful as was this task, 
( it had often to be repeated, for even the invio- 
late sanctity of the grave did not aftbrd security 
to the bodies of our buried comrades; time after 
I time the inhuman leperos exhumed our dead 
and rifling their pockets, left them exposed as 
prey for wolves. The interment of our dead 
ended the last scene in the drama of Monterey. 
During all the long and arduous conflict, no 
regiment had performed a more conspicuous 
part than did the " Bloody First. " The flrst vol- 
unteers that had been called into action during 
i the war, they were placed in a trying and res- 
ponsible situation, being called on to lead a 
charge where the steady discipline of regulars 
had failed, it rested with them to prove or dis- 
prove whether the citizen-soldier could be trust- 
ed in the hour of trial. And who can doubt 
\ that the eminent success of these efforts gavfe 



162 REMINISCENCES OF A 

that tone to the morale of the volunteer corps 
which has entitled it to that confidence which 
has been maintained on every subsequent battle 
field ? It was reserved for the regiment to plant 
the first banners on the first capt-qred work in 
this eventful seige. No regiment could have 
passed through a severer ordeal. For a mile 
and a half they passed over an open plain sub- 
jected all the time to a fire from nearly twenty 
pieces of artillery, and which the veteran Crog- 
han said "was unprecedented in his experience for 
severity.''^ And surely it is not a little to their 
honor, that though they were totally unacquaint- 
ed with the character of their enemy, and had 
never before heard a hostile gun, and though 
more than one-third of their number had fallen, 
they yet successfully charged and carried the 
first fortification that had been assaulted during 
the war, and that too after more than twice their 
number of regular troops had been repulsed by 
the same fortification. 

While we were crossing the plain iti the 
charge upon the fort at the lower end of the city, 
we met the gallant Col. Croghan, the hero of 
Sandusky, coming out of that portion of the 
town, where Col. Garland's command had enter- 
ed: he was riding between our line and the 
enemy, and the balls were whizzing around him 
at a fearful rate as he passed our line, he called 
out in a facetious tone, "Hurrah my gallant 
Tennesseeans, push on fast or those regulars 
will take the town and get all the wine and 
plunder before you get there." 

After the troops became scattered throughout 
the lower end of the city, I chanced to be in 
company with Lieut. Nichols, Gen. Quitman's 
aid, and three others, in traversing one of the 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 163 

Streets, we meet the gallant Capt. Webster, of 
the artillery, standing under an open fire by him- 
self, and within two hundreds yards of St. Mary's 
bridge, coolly and carefully examining the work 
with his glass. He had already been wounded 
through the leg. As our party came up to him, 
he exclaimed " Come boys, there are but very 
few men in that fort, and I can see but one piece 
of artillery, let's cross around to the right and 
flank it. There were only six ot us, and Lieut.. 
Nichols suggested the propriety of having more 
men. I observed five other men near it hand, 
and having called them up, Capt. Webster order- 
ed me to form them and prepare for the charge. 
1 did so, and we moved across a street under an 
awful fire of grape and musketry, but finding it 
perfectly impossible to turn the fort on account 
of a deep stream, we were compelled to retire. 
I venture to say that no attempt during the siege 
was more daring than that attempt of Capt. 
Webster, to carry with only ten men a fort man- 
ned by two hundred men and one piece of artillery. 

But these honors had not been purchased 
without cost. Leaving camp with but little more 
than three hundred men, and many of these too 
debilitated by diarrhea to reach the field, we lost 
in the charge of the 21st one hundred and eight 
killed and wounded. 

With few exceptions, our officers had proved 
themselves full worthy of the confidence we had 
reposed in them ; and were I disposed to panegy- 
ric, I might single out those whom it would not 
be invidious to eulogise ; but omitting the sub- 
alterns, it would be sheer injustice to leave with- 
out a passing notice the conduct of our field and 
staflT officers. Our Colonel was all we had an- 
ticipated ; brave to hardihood, he exposed him- 



164 REMINISCENCES OF A 

self wherever danger and duty called him ; and 
it was through his exertions at the crisis, that 
the gallant McMurry and Cheatham set that 
charge in motion which w^on the fort and the 
city. The chivalric Anderson, our Lieutenant 
Colonel, like a second Ney, dashed into the fearful 
devastation, as cool and unperturbed, as though 
he had "not time to fear;" and when the ill- 
starred halt was called before the fort, where 
ninety-six of our brave hearts sunk down before 
the w^asting fire, his voice was loudest and his 
example boldest in cheering on the charge. 
Maj. Alexander, while nobly pressing on, was 
struck down by a grape shot, and fell a second 
time wounded in his country's cause. And our 
Adjutant, the heroic Heiman, fearless as a con- 
summate veteran, quite outdid himself, and far 
transcended the high opinion in which we had 
already held his courage. 

No battle is without its incidents and anec- 
dotes, and I cannot forbear the relation of some 
few connected wath the attack on Monterey. 

It is not a little strange, that some minds un- 
der the influence of certain circumstances are 
able, by a peculiar process of abstraction, to 
penetrate the veil of the future, and discern the 
issue of those events which are of most momen- 
tous consequence to them. We had not a few 
instances of this power previous to the battle of 
Monterey, and they are but common proofs that 
there are times when "coming events cast their 
shadows before." Lieut. Putnam, of Captain 
Cheatham's company, was, before the battle, so 
thoroughly impressed wdth the presentiment of 
his death, that he wrote to his friends instructing 
them what disposition to make of his property, 
stating that he would certainly fall in the first 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 165 

fight. Entering the battle with such presenti- 
ments as these, he was amongst the foremost in 
the destructive charge, and while gallantly lead- 
ing his men into the streets of the cit}^ he fell 
with a ball directly in the heart. 

The prospect of a bloody battle doubtless 
called forth many strange requests; but I doubt 
whether any were more singular than the pro- 
mise exacted of me by a messmate. Taking 
me aside, with a most lugubrious shade upon 
his countenance, he asked me if I would solemn- 
ly promise to perform a reasonable request. Up- 
on assenting, he said that it was probable he 
should be killed, and if so, he wished me to 
have his body carried off the field and laid in 
some secret place, with not even a handful of 
earth upon it. It was in vain I urged that the 
wolves and vultures would batten on his body. 
"It is no matter," said he, " I will not feel them 
devouring me. Just lay me down there, and. 
come frequently and see that no one buries my 
bones." Fortunately, I was spared the unpleas- 
ant duty, but the motive that gave rise to the 
request I was never able to discover. 

However deep the soldier may be steeped in 
vice and immorality, and however unmoved he 
may have been to the appeals of conscience, 
yet always before a battle there are some re- 
morseful visitings which indicate that conscience 
is again at work. Always wlien we were 
marching into battle, the road side would be 
strewed with scattered cards, which the owners 
had kept until conscience forced them from their 
pockets. On being asked the cause of this, one 
answered that, however wicked he might be, 
he could not die with the devil's endorsement 
upon him , 



166 REMINISCENCES OP A 

One of the streets up which our troops were 
pressing, was swept by a perfect storm of bul- 
lets, that pattered against the walls like hail 
stones. While our Adjutant, the gallant Hie- 
man, was coolly breasting this leaden tornado, 
he remarked, with the utmost sangfroid, to a 
regular officer whom he met, " Major, dis is one 
dam hard shower to be in without an umbrella." 

One of our regiment, who was severely wound- 
ed, called a comrade to him during the battle, 
and said to him: "You look like you were out 
of cartridges. I can't get up to the mulatto 
devils myself^ so do you take my cartridges and 
give them a blizzard or two for me." Was it 
possible to defeat such men as these ? A twelve 
pound ball struck in the midst of our men while 
stationed in one of the streets ; one man, a game- 
ster, coolly walked to it and took his seat upon 
it, exclaiming at the same time, "Til take my 
chance here, as I never saw a roulette ball fall 
twice upon the same spot. " 

A regular officer, during the battle, observed 
one of his men halt beside the bodj^ of a volun- 
teer who had just been struck on the head by a 
cannon ball, which had scattered the brains on 
the wall beside the regular. "What do you 
stop there for?" asked the officer; "are you 
afraid?" "Afraid! no!" responded the soldier 
" I was only thinking how a man that had so 
many brains could be fool enough to volunteer 
to come to such a place as this. " 

While our regiment was engaged in the streets 
on the 21st, one of the men was struck by a 
spent ball, which, carr3^ing away his front teeth, 
lodged between his molars. Quietly spitting the 
ball out into his hand, he exclaimed to those 
around him, " There, now, I'll bet a month's pay, 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 167 

there ain't another man in the army that can 
let the Mexicans shoot at him and catch the ball 
in his teeth in that wa}^" 



CHAPTER XVIIl. 



The claims of the Mississippians to the honor of Iiaving carried 
the first Fort captured at Monterey — Various statements of 
Col. Davis — The facts of the case, and refutation of Col. 
'Davis' clainr. 

It is with extreme regret that I find myself 
called upon to notice the statements of those 
who, at the expense of the Tennessee Regiment, 
have claimed for the Mississippians the honor of 
having first entered the first fort captured at 
Monterey. 

A timely notice on the part of Col. Campbell, 
in answer to these assertions, would forever 
have set this matter at rest ; but Col. Campbell's 
extreme reluctance to appear in the public 
prints, has allowed the mere assertion of the 
other party to remain so long unanswered, that 
they have, greatly to the disparagement of our 
regiment, crept into the histories of the times, 
and have assumed the form of undisputed facts. 
This state of the case has existed so long, that 
I should not now broach anew this matter, but 
that the glaring injustice of the claim set up by 
Col. Davis for his regiment, in some measure 
compels me to show up, in a brief manner, 
some few of the leading facts in the case in 
opposition to the baseless assertions of Col. 
Davis and his friends. I hope it may not yet be 



168 REMINISCENCES OF A 

too late for an impartial public to award the 
honor where it is deserved. But it is not with 
any desire to detract aught from the Mississippi 
regiment that I attempt the exposition of this 
injustice. A more gallant regiment never enter- 
ed the field than the Mississippi regiment, and 
they surely won honors enough at Buena Vista, 
to claim any honors that the Tennessee regiment 
won at Monterey. To detract from the Missis- 
sippi would be to detract from Tennessee, for 
more than one-third of Col. Davis' rifle regi- 
ment were from Tennessee, and among others 
the noble and chivalric Major Bradford, who hfts 
subsequently won such enviable fame. And he, 
too, is one of the Mississippi regiment that does 
not pretend to claim the honor of having carried 
the first fort over the Tennesseeans. 

That the Mississippi carried the sugar-house, 
or the second fort, the Tennesseeans have never 
pretended to dispute. Col. McClung was un- 
doubtedly the first man at the second fort, yet 
even there the man that was nearest to him 
when he fell, was Lieut. Bradfute of the Ten- 
nessee Regiment. 

Col. Davis states that, when he left Camargo, 
the merits of the Mississippi regiment entitled 
them to the front, and therefore he obtained the 
proud leading position to which he intended to 
assert his right. This would necessarily imply 
that he was entitled to the front position in the 
battle of Monterey, and this solely on account 
of the merits of his regiment. It is unfortunate 
for him that Gen. Butler did not have the same 
exalted opinion of the merits of his regiment 
that Col. Davis had ; and if the front position 
was the consequent of merit then Gen. Butler 
esteemed the Tennessee regiment superior to the 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 169 

Mississippians ; for when the line of battle was 
formed the Tennesseeans were on the right of 
Quitman's brigade, and when ordered into action 
we were ordered to move by the left flank. This 
would have thrown the Mississippians in front, 
but Gen. Butler ordered them to remain fast 
until Col. Compbell filed past to the front. But 
this position Col. Campbell does not propose to 
have obtained on account of the assumed supe- 
riorit}^ of merit which Col. Davis arrogated for 
his regiment, but it was obtained from several 
causes. Col. Campbell was entitled to the front 
by right of seniority. Also, in the order of 
march the rotation of regiments that daily oc- 
curred in each brigade would, on the 21st, have 
entitled Col. Campbell to fhe front. Again, Gen. 
Butler knew too well the efficiency of bayonets 
in a charge to place rifles in front. 

Col. Davis saj^s that when he arrived before 
the fort, that the closing up of our regiment or 
some other movement created an opening to his 
left which, by a complicated movement, he 
hastened to occupy. This placed him directly 
in front of the fort, and he ordered the charge 
and he did not afterwards look back to see what 
Col. Campbell was doing. This statement is 
intended evidently to mean that Col. Davis threw 
his regiment between Col. Campbell and the 
fort ; for how else could he have g^ned the front 
of the fort and have been compelled to lookback 
to see Col. Campbell ? Col. Davis thus places 
his regiment in front of Col. Campbell, and yet 
in the same breath he states that it was on Col. 
Campbell's right. How was it possible for him 
to be on the right of Col. Campbell and at the 
same time directly in front of him? Again, he 
says that directly before him, (and consequently 
3 



170 REMINISCENCES OF A 

in the front of the fort,) was a broad, deep em- 
brasure, used as a sally port. How improbable 
is it that any enemy would make a sally port 
directly in the front of a fortification ! A broad 
ditch flanking the fort on Col. Campbell's left 
compelled him to approach the fort in front, and 
that the Mississippians were on his right. Col. 
Davis several times admitted in his printed state- 
ments ; and the sally port, of which Col. Davis 
speaks, it is well known was not in front of the 
fort, but directly in its rear. How irreconcilable 
then with the facts, and even with his own words, 
is the statement of Col. D., that he was directly 
in front of the fort, and at the same time in front 
of Col. Campbell when the charge was made ! 
Col. Davis could not pbssibly have occupied the 
position which he states that he held in regard 
to the sally port ; for he states that his fifth com- 
pany, numbering from the right, was directly 
opposite the sally port, Had such been literally 
the case, his right companies must have extend- 
ed far into the town, which, was not the case. 
But this is irrelevant to the question, and I only 
cite it to show the remarkable looseness and in- 
consistency which pervade all his assertions in 
regard to this matter. 

Col. Davis, finding it hard to reconcile his 
claim with the stubborn fact, that the Tennessee 
regiment, numbering in the action scarcely three 
hundred men, lost on the 21st more than double 
the loss from four hundred and fifty Mississip- 
pians, has the hardihood to assert as a reason 
for this, that we were so far in advance that the 
enemy's shot aimed at the body of the army, 
passed over our heads. " Was there ever before 
such a preposterous argument invented? This 
of itself is sufiicient to invalidate his whole claim. 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 171 

It must be obvious to every one tHat an ene- 
my, in order lo check a charge upon them, would 
fire upon the front or head of the advancing 
column, and endeavor by breaking and discon- 
certing the advance lines to throve them back in 
confusion upon the remainder of the column. 
It is not, therefore, reasonable to suppose that 
any enemy would be guilty of the folly of at- 
tempting to repulse an attack by firing over the 
front assailants and directing their aim upon 
those in the rear. And much less would an 
enemy be guilty of firing at a small number of 
men, when a distinct and larger body were so 
much nearer and in more efi'ective range. It is 
by such assertions, unsubstantiated by a single 
fact and so little consonant with truth and com- 
mon sense, that the Tennessee regiment has 
been in a great measure robbed of its blood, 
bought laurels. 

The facts of the case are these : When the 
Tennessee regiment, with its left in front, came 
near the fort, the front company was halted, 
and the remainder of the regiment moved round 
by a flank movement and formed on its left; — a 
firing and halt for several minutes now ensued, 
during which time the Mississippians .came up 
and formed obliquely on the right of the Ten- 
nesseeans, but with two of their left companies 
covering the rear, of the Tennessee right wing. 
This position placed the Tennesseeans directly 
opposite the fort, while the main body of the 
Mississippians were farther off* and opposite an- 
other side of the fort, adjacent to the front. 
Finding that the enemy's fire did not abate, and 
our own of no efl?'ect, Col. Campbell, by General 
Quitman's command, gave the order ^o charge, 



172 REMINISCENCES O? A 

v/hich was promptly obeyed, and the enemy 
fired their last gun as we crossed the ditches. 
Gol. Davis had .ordered his regiment to charge 
about the same time that Col. Campbell gave 
the order, but being farther off and somewhat 
in our rear, his regiment did not reach the fort 
so soon as did the Tennesseeans. Col. Davis 
says that he is astonished to hear the bayonets 
brought into the question; and he says it was his 
rifles that drove the enemy from their guns. 
As for this : the enemy did not leave their guns 
until our bayonets were glistening within thirty 
feet of them; and it is well known that but two 
Mexicans were killed, and another mortally 
wounded, during all our firing belbre the fort, 
and the two that were killed were lying under 
the embrasure opposite the Tennessee regiment* 
Surely, therefore, it could not have been any 
very fatal efi'ect of Col. Davis' rifles that drove 
the enemy from their guns* 

And this statement is not intended to detract 
from Capt. Backus' claim to a share of the honor 
of capturing this fort; but in connection with this, 
I will state what is well known by every member, 
bq^h of the Tennessee and Mississippi regiments, 
that when Gen. Quitman's brigade arrived op- 
posite the fort, they were ordered to charge, not 
one regular soldier was in sight, nor were any 
seen until we had carried the fort. And Capt. 
Backus' company could not have caused any 
very great havoc among the Mexicans, at least 
not so destructive a one as Gen. Taylor's report 
would induce those unacquainted with the cir- 
cumstances and facts to believe. I make the 
assertion, and i do not fear contradiction, that 
not a dozen Mexicans killed and wounded were 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 173 

found in the two forts after we charged them. 
The position and self-possession of Gen. Quit- 
man during the action enabled him to see clear- 
ly every thing that occurred, and being a Missis- 
sippian himself, he would be naturally biased to- 
wards the Mississippians ; he, therefore, cannot 
be accused of doing injustice to Col. Davis' regi- 
ment; yet, in a moment after the fort was car- 
ried, he approached Col. Campbell, and remark- 
ed in a congratulatory tone, " To your regiment, 
sir, belongs the honor of the day; they were the 
first to enter the fort;" and shortly afterwards 
he repeated, at three several times, the same re- 
mark to Lieut. Col. Anderson, Adj. Heiman, and 
Capt. Cheatham. This remark was made vol- 
luntarily upon the field, and long before any is- 
sue had been made between the two regiments. 
No one certainly will doubt that Gen. Quitman 
then spoke with full knowledge and in all sin- 
cerity. As a farther evidence that the Missis- 
sippians followed and did not lead in the charge, 
it is a fact beyond dispute that not less than five 
or sixTennesseeans were wounded from the rear 
after the charge was set in motion, and when 
they v.'ere very near the fort; and that these men 
were wounded by the Mississippians, there is 
unmistakable evidence that three, if not more, 
of the balls extracted from these men were 
Mississippi rifle balls, and they are still in the 
possession of Lieut. Nixon. 1 might adduce a 
multitude of other facts, equally strong and con- 
clusive, and I might cite the written testimony of 
various officers of our regiment in the matter. 
I might also make the discord and incongruity 
in the statements of the Mississippi officers wit- 
ness against themselves ; but I forbear to pursue 
the matter farther, and trust that even in what 



174 REMINISCENCES OF A 

I have cited there will be found sufficient for 
"deliberate and sometimes slow moving truth" 
to discover the utter falsity of the claim set up 
by Col. Davis for his regiment. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



Mexican Hucksters — Grotesque appearance of the Donkeys and 
their riders — Soldiers allowed to enter the city--— A visit to the 
town — A ranch and its inmates, with their dress and occupation 
— Appearance of the city on approaching it— Appearance of 
the houses and style of architecture — An arriero or muleteer 
— A senorita — El Puente de la Maria Purissimo— The Plaza — 
the Cathedral — its front — its interior — the Carcel Ciudad — the 
Barber's basin — a Mexican dwarf — Arista's garden — Bishop's 
Palace, and prospect from thence — irrigation — corn — cane — 
sugar making' — Gen. Worth takes Saltillo — Preparations to 
march on Tampico. 

Scarcely had the sound of battle ceased ere 
our camp became a perfect market, where, from 
dawn till dark, hundreds of Mexicans of both 
sexes were vending all the fruits and produc- 
tions of their highly favored clime. Every 
want that our pleasures or necessities could sug- 
gest were furnished by these mercenary people 
for our gratification. To the soldier, worn down 
with hardships and sufterance, this was a rich 
repast: and to the lawless Mexicans it was a 
rare harvest. Though for more than two months 
these hucksters continued in increased numbers 
to throng our camps, yet to the honor of our 
soldiery, but few instances occurred of any 
attempts to defraud or wrong them. 

Donkeys were here the usual beasts of burthen, 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 175 

and it is curious to see the kind and quantity 
of burthens that are packed upon them. 

A saddle is the sina qua non of every Mexican; 
yet with those who ride donkeys they appear 
perfect superfluities — less for service than for 
show — as three-fourths of the donkey-riding 
Mexicans, after carefully girthing on the saddle, 
take their seat behind it. It required some time 
for our men to become familiar with the gro- 
tesque appearance of the donkeys and their 
riders. Here would come a donkey with a pair 
of huge raw hide panniers swinging from his 
sides, while the rider, guiding the donkey with. 
a stick, is quietly seated behind the saddle with 
his feet trailing in the dust. There another 
ass might be seen with a large earthenware jar 
lashed on either side and containing ass' and 
goat's milk, which the boy who is leading the 
ass by the ear does not fail to make known by 
the cry of "Leche de burro, leche de cabra." 
Yonder are two hogs dangling from the back of 
a donkey, and kicking, grunting and squealing in. 
his very ears, but the imperturbed ass bears their 
vociferous complaints with as much philosophy 
as did Socrates the railings of his wife. 

After the expiration of the seven day's limit, 
during which time the enemy were leaving 
the city, General Worth took entire possession 
of it, and having instituted a vigorous and vigi- 
lant police, the soldiers, under proper restrictions, 
were allowed to enter it. Anon, I too, took 
advantage of this liberty. Obtaining a passport 
with the proper signature, I passed the camp 
guard and took my way towards the city. It was 
Sunday, and the morning was unusually raw 
and chilly, as a slight frost had fallen the night 
before, and I had shivered beneath two blankets ; 



176 REMINISCENCES OF A 

behind me the sun scaling the peaks of the Ce- 
ralvo range was faintly struggling with the mists 
of the morning. To the right, three miljes distant, 
lay the copse-crowned Sierrita or little moun- 
tain, at the foot of which was the Agua Caliente 
or hot springs with its baths. Obliquely to the 
right and front creeping vapors were hang- 
ing half way up the bleak sides of the Sier- 
ra de la Mitria, while to the left the fantastic 
peaks of the Saddle mountain were totally en- 
veloped in a thick cloud, which floating west- 
ward, half veiled the lofty range beyond the 
city. On either side of the road were desolated 
corn fields with their bare stalks rising up fifteen 
or eighteen feet. Here and there, fields of sugar 
cane are trampled to the ground. The broken 
fences, trampled fields, and scattered grain were 
all marks that the hand of the ravager had been 
there. 

Here is a ranch. It is a, queer looking build- 
ing, with its huge sun burnt bricks half worn 
away by time and weather, while the imperisha- 
ble mortar is still jutting out from the joints. A 
gourd vine completely envelopes its sides and 
falls over the long, projecting eaves of its steep, 
thatched roof. Near the door a woman sits upon 
the ground with a wisp of cotton in one hand, 
and in the other is a simple wooden spindle, con- 
sisting of a straight stick eight inches in length, 
v/ith a top-shaped head attached to one end. 
Attaching the cotton to the smaller end, she 
twirls the spindle a moment in her fingers, and 
then dropping the top-shaped end upon the 
ground, it spins away for half a minute or more. 
Near by is a young girl, with her knees resting 
on the ground, and from an earthenware pot, fill 
ed with boiled corn, she is crushing handful after 



CAMFAtG?^ IN ^IEXIfcd. Itt 

bandful upon a flat, rectangular, and slightly 
hollowed stone. The instrument she uses to 
crush it is a long stone, somewhat resembling 
an American housewife's rolling pin, only it 
tapers towards either end and has four sides with 
rounded edges. Taking this stone pin in both 
hands she bends over the hollowed stone, whose 
surface is an inclined plane, and laboring indus- 
triously, she soon crushes enough corn ibr the 
morning's tortillas. 

Another girl, with a primitive hand-loom upon 
her lap, is tediously weaving a varicolored 
blanket. Several denuded children are playing 
around, while the "pater-familias, a veritable 
ranchero, sits complacently on the ground, clad 
in a pair of leathern breeches, with the outside 
seam of the legs unsewed, which serves to dis- 
pla}^ beneath a pair of white cotton drawers. 
Around his bare shoulders is thrown a worn 
blanket; a pair of course sandals are lashed 
upon his feet, while upon his head is a heavy, 
black, broadbrimmed sombrero, and the invari- 
able cigaritto, or small paper-wrapped cigar, 
serves to complete (?) his dress. It requires but 
a horse, a sword, a carbine, and a leader to 
convert this ranchero into a consummate guer- 
rillero. The women are dressed cleanly and 
tastefully: each wears a snowy, half-sleeved 
chemise, low in front, yet not so low as wholly to 
reveal what anxious expectation hath half 
glimpsed at. Qver this is a short, colored skirt, 
or petticoat. Beneath these may be seen a 
finely turned foot and ankle, without shoe or 
stocking. Around the neck of each, is arosaria 
with a cross or a brazen image of Maria Puris- 
sirna. Entering the house, we find no floor but 
the earth, and save a rough bedstead and a few 
8* 



178 fetJMiNiSCENCES OF A 

coarse mats, there is no furniture to be seen; a 
few eartiienware jars and bowls are here and 
there arranged on rough shelves ; while in raw 
hides, swinging from the roof, is the corn for 
bread. But in vain we look for a fire place. 
Chimneys and fire places are nonentities among 
Mexicans. They usually cook in the open air^ 
or under sheds, and the climate does not require 
a fire to be kept in the house. 

Leaving the ranch, we proceed on towards the 
city: soon we are in half a mile of it, and yet 
nothing can be seen of it, save the red dome of 
the cathedral, peering above the green groVfes 
of the city. A few rods farther, and the white 
walls of the houses are seen through the clus- 
ters of rich foliage that belt the suburbs. Away 
off to Ihe northwest, upon a commanding emi- 
nence, are the ruins of the Bishop's Palace ; 
nearer, to the right, are the dusky walls of La 
Cindadela, or the Black Fort. Passing across 
the battle ground of the 21st, we enter the city. 
At first the low adobe jacales, or houses of the 
suburbans only appear ; but soon larger houses 
are standing on both sides of us. What strange 
looking houses they are to an American! They 
appear as though the builders had left off their 
work before they had half finished them. They 
have no chimneys, no gable ends, and apparently 
no roof, while the windows are without glass or 
shutters. But a closer view satisfies us that they 
are finished houses, with the architecture of a 
mixed style — half Moorish, half Mexican. The 
walls are neatly stuccoed, and are glistening 
white ; but their scarred fronts bear witness to 
the fury of the recent conflict. A few feet from 
the top of these walls, which rise square up 
from the street, long wooden gutter pipes pro- 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 179 

ject over the street and frown upon us like dark 
mouthed muskets ; and we find on inquiry that 
the roofs are flat and made of tiles and cement. 

"What!" you would ask, "are these dark 
eyed girls in prison that we see sitting in that 
large iron grated window?" No! no! all their 
windows project into the street, and are grated 
thus. The flat roofs, the terrace above the 
roofs, and the glistening stucco, are the same 
that Bernal Diaz, Cortes and Clavigero tell us 
were found here at the conquest; while the 
large arched doorways and massive doors, the 
glazed floors, and the interior courtyard, are 
Spanish importations from old Grenada. ThivS 
blending and intermixture of the two styles — 
this grafting the one upon the other — shows the 
inveterate adherence of the two races, now 
blended, to their ancient and peculiar customs. 
And the high walls enclosing the yards, the 
grated windows and the port holes plunging 
from the terraces, are forceful commentaries 
upon the jealousies and faithlessness of this 
mixed nation. 

Here we are interrupted by the harsh cry of a 
muleteer, and turning we see a man mounted 
on a small horse, with the long leathern covers 
to their stirrups touching the ground ; while he 
cheers up by a peculiar cry and whistle an in- 
discriminate train ol mules and asses, loaded 
with every variety of burthens; some are loaded 
with wooden crates, through the crevices of 
which may be seen oranges, apples, limes, or 
pomegranates. Should we wish to buy, we have 
only to call out,"hombre!" "hombre!" (man,) and 
he sells us oranges, apples, or pomegranates 
at a cent a-piece. Passing on, a young girl 
fipproaches us ; a fine cotton scarf, or reboso, is 



180 REMINISCENCES OF A 

drawn around her head and falls gracefully ovef 
the shoulders in front. Beneath her short dress 
is seen an exquisitely small foot, encased in a 
satin slipper, while her finely moulded ankle is 
unhid by stocking or ungraceful pantalette. Her 
dark lustrous eye twinkles beneath her jetty 
lashes with exceeding brilliancy. Her long 
raven hair falling in natural tastefulness down 
her shoulders, contrasts beautifully with the 
white chemise beneath ; and ever and anon she 
reveals a double row of teeth of pearly transpa- 
rency, as she draws the fuming cigaritto from her 
lips to utter a soft "adios" to some friend inside 
a barred window. 

We have now reached the bridge of Maria 
Purissimo. It is a fine stone structure with 
broad seats in the form of sofas cut in either side 
—while on one side is a pedestal surmounted by 
a painted marble statue of the Most Pure Virgin. 
On both sides of the pure stream are groves of 
orange, lime, the aguacate, the banana, with 
its long broad leaves, and even the cypress, 
which shed a grateful umbrage and half incline 
us to spend an hour here admiring the beauty of 
the aqueduct and its costly bridge. Crossing 
the bridge, we approach the centre of the city 
over the street paved by Mina and his associates. 
We find but few of the houses two stories in 
height; however, here and there may be seen a 
balcony from an upper story, projecting over the 
street, from which some dark eyed dongella is 
scanning, with inquisitive curiosity, the manners 
and costumes of Los Americanos. 

Here, at last, is the main plaza, an open square 
some three acres in extent. On entering, our 
ears are assailed by an obstreperous din of bells, 
and looking towards the east end of the plaza, 



tJiM^'AieN tN MEitCO. 1§1 

we see a man upon a large building, in an open 
belfiy, pulling with might and main the clapper 
cords of fi\e enormous bells. This is the Cathe- 
di'al, an immense stone structure coated with 
stucco. Its carved front is crowned by tw6 
steeples, while, from the farther end, rises aii 
immense dome. It is some saint's day, and 
scores of senoritas, closely hooded in their rich 
rebosas, and wending their way towards the 
cathedral. Joining in the throng, we pass the 
massive gateway, and the eye is at once caught 
by the elaborate facade — saints and angels, in 
basso relievo, are smiling along its face ; oddly 
intermixed with these, are cross bones, with 
death's grim head, grinning between, while over 
the doorway are the synibolic keys. The whole 
design of the facade is rich and imposing; but the 
rough and wretched execution robs it of half its 
effect. Once inside and beyond the transept, 
and we were in the main aisle ; not a bench or 
seat is to be seen, but along the wooden floors 
of the three aisles are old and young, kneeling 
before the objects of their devotion. Here may 
be seen a number of widows and orphans, fruits 
of the battle, bending before the shrine of "de 
las Doloras," Here are the fair senoritas, with 
their knees resting on the floor, their skirts 
thrown behind them, and their bodies erect, their 
dark hair falling adown their shoulders, their 
long rebosas drawn over their head, or falling 
loosely about the waist, while their soft eyes 
are bent upwards in fervent adoration : 

"And, 0, it brings a sweet emotion 
To witness beauty in devotion." 

Yet some, less devout than others, are twirling 
their costly fans with coquetish air, and even 
while their lips are mechanically lisping the "Ave 



182 REMINISCENCES O^ A 

Maria," their dark eyes are flashing from side 
to side, and they are displaying in studied atti- 
tudes the gracelul curves and symmetry of their 
forms. One by one, as they finish their devo- 
tions, they cross their foreheads with holy water 
and retire. On either side of the nave, or main 
aisle, is a smaller one, separated from it by long 
arcades, and in these smaller aisles are a multi- 
tude of images, placed in the nitches or inter- 
columniates along the wall. At the farther end 
of the main aisle, a light, admitted by the high 
windows above the choir, is streaming over the 
altar, which, glowing with tapers, is blazing in 
barbaric splendor. The front of the altar and 
the pyx, or box for the host, are coated with 
pure silver, and the candlesticks aud vessels of 
the altar, save the chalice, which is gold, are of 
the same metal. The whole w^all beyond the 
altar is covered with an immense sheet of bronze 
upon which the Savior, the Virgin and twelve 
Apostles are represented. To the right of the 
altar is the sacristy, vv^here the vessels and wealth 
of the church are kept; here are the cap, the 
mitre and the silver crozier of the bishop, with a 
quantity of silver plate and other articles of 
value ; here too is a life sized image of our 
Savior carved in wood. 

Having finished this view of the Cathredral, 
we again enter the plaza. On the opposite side 
is the Carcel Ciudad, or City Prison. On the 
left are ranged thirty-four pieces of artillery, 
captured from the enemy. In the rear of the 
prison, is another square or plaza; in this is the 
market for fruits and vegetables. Passing these 
with the church of San Francisco, we take our 
way towards the upper end of the city. Sunday 
is the principal day for trading, and hence every 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. ■ i83 

store is opeii. Here too is a Mexican barber's 
shop, with all its appurtenances, and the brazen 
basin calls instantly to mind Don Quixotte and 
Mambrino's helmet. They hold their basin un- 
der one's chin, and lather not with a brush but 
with their fingers. 

Here is a dwarf scarce thirty inches in height, 
yet his head is covered with an enormous hat, 
and basking beneath its umbrageous breadth of 
brim, the diminutive little fellow, feeling secure 
in his deformity, is swelling, strutting and vapor- 
ing like a turkey cock in a barn yard, and crying 
out, "Vamos Americanos ! Los Mexicanos son 
muchos mucha valient." (Begone Americans ! 
The Mexicans are very brave, very valiant.) 
His Mexican listeners laugh vociferously at this 
exhibition of Mexicanism 

Passing through several plazas, in one of which 
is the "Portage de Carnc," or meat market, wx 
arrive opposite a long, neat, one story building, 
with grated windows and an arched door way* 
This is Arista's residence and garden. Inside 
are a variety of flowers arranged in flower pots ; 
every thing looks neat and in order. The gar- 
den is two acres in extent, and is regularly laid 
off with fine walks, and has a stone aqueduct 
conveying water into every square and running 
through a large bath. This is now a hospital, 
and a sentry prevents any one from pulling the 
flowers. Continuing our course, we ascend a 
high, rocky hill, with the small jagged rocks of 
the sur-bed strata jutting up all along the hill 
side so thickly that it is scarcely possible to 
ascend, except by the path. Upon this hill is 
the Bishop's Palace, now in ruins ; its broken 
arches and crumbling walls, with their half ef- 
faced paintings, show that time and neglect have 



IW 



RfiMINlSCENCES OF A 



dealt hardly with it. Taking our seat upon the 
ruins, we have one of the loveliest prospects be- 
fore us that the eye ever gazed on. Away yonder 
are the white tents of the army in the grove of 
San Domingo; green fields and squares lay 
between, here and there dotted by a ranch. On 
the other side, the San Juan rushing from the 
mountain gorge, comes bounding along over 
rocks and pebbles, and laving the base of the 
hill, flows away off beyond the city. Beneath 
us stretches away the lovely city, its cool, green 
groves giving admirable relief to the white walls 
of the houses. There are the green leafed or- 
ange trees, with their golden fruitage ; there are 
the lime, the lemon, the citron, and the fig, with 
the agucate and its purple, pear-shaped fruit. 
With reluctance we leave this enchanting pros- 
pect, to return to the dull duties of a camp. It 
is now growing dusk, and on our way through the 
upper end of the city towards the camp, we find 
the streets filled with myriads of vociferous dogs; 
if they approach too near, their owners call 
them off by hissing and clapping their hands 
in the same manner that an American would set 
them on. Thus ended my first visit to Monterey. 

The country around Monterey is unusually 
fertile, and the lands irrigated by the mountain 
streams, which being conveyed through raised 
ditches into the fields are at the proper time al- 
lowed to overflow^ them. 

The corn raised here is superior to any I have 
ever seen elsewhere, and two crops are annually 
raised on the same ground. The sugar cane is 
of a fine quality, and the climate is so equal 
that the cane will ripen at any season of the 
year. The mill used for grinding the cane is of 
wood, and is similar to a Yankee apple mill. 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 185 

The juice is boiled down in a single kettle, and 
when it is of the proper consistency, the kettle 
is removed from the fire and the sugar is poured 
off into small earthenware moulds in the shape 
of a truncated cone. When cool the sugar is 
removed from the moulds, and each cake, weigh- 
ing about two pounds, is separately wrapped in 
the leaves of the cane; it is then ready for 
market under the name of piloncillos. 

Gen. Taylor having received notice from the 
Government that the armistice was disproved 
of, he immediately advised the Mexican Gov- 
ernment of the fact, and in November he moved 
upon Saltillo with a strong division under Gen. 
Worth. This place he quietly occupied, and 
after his return to Monterey, he began to make 
preparations to move a column upon Tampico, 
by way of Victoria. 

During the time that the army lay in. camp, 
which was more than two months, the men had 
been drilled daily, and notwithstanding an idle 
life is so unfavorable to subordination, the men 
were in an excellent state of discipline. 

An army is utterly incompatible with the 
boasted prerogative of liberty, and it was not 
without strict measures that the volunteers could 
learn to doff their rights of freedom and feel that 
the duties of a soldier were antagonistic to the 
liberty of a freeman ; yet by experience and 
example, they had been taught at length that 
subordination is the first duty of a soldier. On 
the 13th December, Gen. Twiggs took up the 
line of march towards Victoria, as the advance 
of the column about to move on Tampico, 



186 REMINISCENCES OF A 



CHAPTER XX. 



Organization of the marching column — Departure of the volun- 
teers — Last view of Monterey— Caidarretta — Vultures and 
Zoploter guides to camp — Reuel Monte Morelos — Messengers 
from Monterey and return of Taylor and Twiggs— New or- 
ganization of troops — Monte Morelos — Appearance of the 
country — Opuntia — Liuacer — Its alcalde — Christmas — Hidal- 
go — Night expedition into Hidalgo — Hacienda of Dr. Potsi — 
Enter Victoria. 

The column organized at Manterey for the 
descent upon Tampico, consisted of General 
Twiggs's division of regulars, and the Georgia, 
Baltimore, Mississippi, and 1st Tennesse regi- 
ments of volunteers, while the 2nd Tennessee 
regiment was to move from Camargo and join 
the column at Monte Morolos, sixty miles below 
Monterey. Gen. Patterson was about the same 
time to organize another column upon the lower 
Rio Grande, and throw it forward from Matamo- 
ras upon Victoria, and there unite with the main 
column. Gen. Taylor determined to assume in 
person the command of this column, and to 
leave Gen. Butler in command of all the forces 
upon the old line from Brazos to Saltillo. 

The morning of December the 14th presented 
a busy bustling scene, as the volunteer division, 
under Gen. Quitman, proceeded to set out on 
their long march towards the south-east. The 
"Generale" had been sounded — the tents struck 
— the baggage train loaded, and by eight o'clock 
we were en route for Victoria. 

The breaking up of an encampment is al- 
ways an animating scene, here it was peculiarly 
so; and it was with enthusiasm and alacrity 
that the men put on their harness, haversacks, 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 187 

and canteens, and shouldering their arms took 
up the route step from Camp Allen. Traversing 
the battle-field, we passed through the lower end 
of the city, and" crossing the San Juan, took an 
easterly direction down the valley of the San 
Juan. Our road led us along the base of the 
lofty Saddle Mountain, but soon leaving it to 
the right, we entered the neat stone built village 
of Guadalupe, with its cool orange groves, and 
its patches of maguez. Ascending a small ele- 
vation beyond Guadalupe, we turned to take a 
last lingering view of the majestic and sublime 
scenery that environs Monterey. It was not 
without feelings of awe and pleasure, mingled 
with sadness, that we looked for the last time 
upon the familiar scenes before us. Faraway 
in the distance lay the lovely city, in its cool 
and quiet niche, the nucleus around which, with 
us, clustered a thousand varied associations; 
above the city, nature's stern barriers uplifted 
their lofty heads, high in. the* empyrean vault, 
while the sunlight breaking on their ruggedness, 
revealed every crack and crevice in their fissured 
sides. Beyond the Bishop's Palace, loomed up 
the mitre crowned summit of La Mitra. 

Where, crag on crag, and peak on peak, 
La Mitria rears its summit bleak, 
All crowned with towering cliffs so high 
They scorn the clouds and scoff the sky; 
Bathed in the sunlight's radiant glow, 
They glitter white as cliffs of snow. 

Continuing our course, a hill shut out the 
view, and we saw Monterey no more. Twenty- 
five miles below Monterey, and on the same 
branch of the San Juan, is the city of Caidar- 
retta, by far the prettiest town we had hitherto 
met with. A decided good taste prevailed 
throughout the whole city. The streets were 



188 REMINISCENCE3 OF A 

neatly paved, and the sidewalks were superior 
to any I have ever seen elsewhere. They were 
formed of finely glazed cement, and were level 
throughout the whole length of the streets. 
From the centre of the plaza arose a tall monu- 
mental column, commemorative of some event 
in the Mexican revolution. The finish of the 
buildings, the ornamental gardens, and alto- 
gether the appearance of the whole city, gave 
assurance of a higher degree of refinement and 
cultivation than is usually met with in the 
smaller cities of Mexico. We passed Caidar- 
retta on the 1 5th, and after a forced march of 
twenty-three miles encamped on a fine stream, 
some twenty yards in width. The day was ex- 
cessively warm and the troops suffered extreme- 
ly ; and when they beheld the vultures and zopi- 
lotes wheeling in their airy circles over Gen. 
Twiggs' camp, they hailed them with a shout. 
The different divisions of the army being each 
a day's march Separate, camp successively at 
the same encampment; the garbage and offal 
left by the front divisions, attract clouds of eagles, 
vultures, and zopiloteg, and as they can be seen 
at a great distance, they are invariable guides 
to camp. 

On the 16th, Gen. Taylor, with an escort of 
dragoons, joined us, having remained in Mon- 
terey a day after our departure. The next day 
we reached Monte Morelos, when a messenger 
arrived from Monterey stating that Gen. Worth 
w^as about to be attacked by Santa Anna, who 
was advancing on him with a vastly superior 
force ; and that Gen. Butler, with all the avail- 
able troops had already set out for Saltillo. 
Early on the 17th, Gen. Taylor, with all the 
dragoons and Twiggs' division, set out on their 



Campaign in mexico. 189 

return march, as Gen. Taylor determined to 
hasten back and throw Twiggs forward to rein- 
force Worth and Butler. This movement left 
the meritorious and gallant Quitman, now acting 
as Major General, to conduct the remainder of 
the column towards Victoria. Being joined by 
the 2d Tennessee regiment, the whole command 
now consisted of twenty-two hundred men. The 
1st and 2d Tennessee regiments were formed 
into a brigade and placed under Col. Campbell, 
and the Mississippi, Georgia, and Baltimore regi- 
ments were placed as a brigade under Colonel 
Jackson. 

Of all the towns we had yet seen, Monte 
Morelos had the most decayed aspect. It con- 
tains a population of some three thousand, and 
the dilapidated ruins of three half finished cathe- 
drals stand out as monuments of their indecision 
and lack of public spirit and enterprise among 
the inhabitants. Multitudes of wretched beings 
are crowded together in the crumbling walls of 
the decaying buildings, and even in the heart 
of the town ; in the centre of the strange, trap- 
ezoidal plaza may be seen the lowly tenements 
of squalid want and destitution. 

Resuming our march on the 18th, w^e began 
to observe a material change in the appearance 
of the country ; the wild olive, which grew in 
such abundance around Monterey, now disap- 
peared altogether; the chaparrel became less 
dense ; the mesquite and ebony were larger and 
more abundant, and vast fields of opuntia 
stretched away on either side of the road. This 
species of the opuntia bears the fruit called 
tuna, and, though highly lauded by Thompson 
and others for its delicious flavor, yet I must 
confess that I could never relish its? racy flavor. 



190 REMINISCENCES OF A 

and I think the Mexicans have not inappropri- 
ately styled it "bisanda," or twice nothing. 
This species of the cactus continued in an al- 
most unbroken waste for nearly two hundred 
miles, and being from five to ten feet in height 
and armed with innumerable spires and prickles 
it w^ould have effectually prevented any attack 
of cavalry upon our lines even had the enemy 
have meditated such a thing. Our roule led 
us along a narrow ridge, or table land, which 
arose from a vast plain. Towards our right, 
the main range of the Sierra Madre rose up at 
some twelve miles distance, while away off, 
more than thirty miles to the left, a beautiful 
valley was bounded by the Ceralvo spm*. Our 
direction pointed towards the easternmost ex- 
tremity of the Ceralvo range, where, after suc^ 
cessive elevations and depressions, it terminated 
in a high table topped mountain, which was 
faintly discernible in the distance. The surface 
of this table land, over which we were traveling, 
was formed of alternate strata of aluminous 
slate and a beautiful crystaline substance which 
breaks always- into rhomboidal crystals; and as 
the strata were lying in a semi-surbed state, or 
edgewise, the road was usually superior to any 
turnpike. 

Occasionally, at long intervals, this table land 
was intersected by fine, bold and translucent 
mountain streams all flowing eastward, and 
uniting at the base of the Ceralvo chain. Along 
the banks of these streams are usually small 
and luxuriant valleys, clothed with an exuberant 
growth of rich and verdant foliage, but, here 
and there, are high bluffs of conglomerate, 
crowned by a peculiar species of pine. 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 191 

In the bottoms and valleys along these streams 
are found extensive groves of ebony and lignum 
vitoe; the trunks of these trees are sometimes 
several feet in diameter, although they seldom 
grow to a greater height than fifty or sixty feet. 
All the timber of Mexico is remarkable for its 
weight and solidity, and the charcoal which is 
made from it is nearly equal in weight and firm- 
ness to stone coal. The mesquite is particular- 
ly remarkable for the great heat it produces 
while burning. 

We found on this route, an abundance of 
game of all kinds; scarce an evening passed 
without ten or twelve deer being brought into 
camp ; turkeys and wood-hens were often met 
with, while the ebony groves abounded with 
bears and herds of peccaries or Mexican wild 
hogs — a very fierce and savage species of hog; 
they have a peculiar excrescence near the top of 
their backs, greatly resembling a teat, which 
exudes an ichorous liquor; their flesh is very 
good food, but yet it has a wild tang that renders 
it at first a little disagreeable. 

Wolves abound throughout all Mexico in such 
vast numbers, that it is a mystery how they can 
subsist, and they are so little cared for by the 
Mexicans, that they are almost as tame as house 
dogs. We could always find, when starting out on 
our march of a morning, numbers of them care- 
lessly trotting before us in the road. In addition 
to the large black wolf and the cojote or prairie 
wolf, there is an indigenous species in Mexico, 
which has no hair. In the dry desert tracts, 
we sometimes passed through, and which were 
covered only with cactus, acacia, and the 
wisatchi or flowering mesquite, we found great 



192 REMINISCENCES OF A 

numbers of armadillos. Their principal food 
consists in the immense swarms of ants which 
are found in these barren tracts; I have not un- 
frequently seen a line of ants half a mile in 
length moving along paths which they had worn 
smooth by frequent passing to and fro. 

On the 21st, we reached the beautiful town of 
Linares, containing some six thousand inhabit- 
ants. It is situated in a fertile valley which is 
thickly studded with ranches and haciendas. The 
city is delightfully located between two small 
rivers, and its inhabitants are nearly all pure 
Castilians. Here we saw the only chimneys 
we ever met with in Mexico. We found the 
country about Linares in a better state of culti- 
vation than any we had hitherto met with. 
Quite a number of sugar farms were lying in its 
immediate vicinity. The alcalde was very 
friendly, and on our departure he accompanied 
us for several miles, decked out in true Mexican 
style, exhibiting a barbarous profusion of silver. 
He was mounted on a small, sleek, ambling 
nag, and his saddle was richly mounted with 
silver, and the bridle was decked with the same 
metal, wiiile his saddle cloth, or mantilla, was 
finely embroidered with the richest colors. His 
jacket was studded with silver buttons, and a 
multitude of twelve and a half cent pieces, 
formed into buttons, extended down either side 
of his pants. 

Passing the small town of Villa Grande, 
Christmas at last daw^ned upon us, as we were 
encamped in a singularly bare and desolate 
place. The men had hoped to have remained 
in camp during the 25th, to celebrate, in some 
manner, that time honored holiday. 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO, 198 

Christmas— the very name called up to the 
tired, war-worn soldier a thousand scenes of by- 
gone mirth and festivity. Christmas dinner, 
with its luxuries, dainties and rich egg-nogs, 
came up with taunting vividness. Many a 
weary soldier, as he lay upon his harsh, stony, 
bed turned his thoughts to his far-distant home, 
and touched by the magic wand of Morpheus, 
he found himself again by the fire-side of home; 
there were the loved and familiar faces now 
bent upon him to hear the recital of the soldier's 
trials and sufferings, and as with burning pathos, 
he recounted the tale of his troubles, the tear 
would trill down the kind mother's cheek. Then 
with the license of the dreamer, he would move 
amidst some festive throng and mingle in the 
mazes of the merry dance, beside some fair 
partner whose willing ear was bent to catch 
each whisper that betrayed his love. It was not 
without many a sigh that the soldier found his 
fond reverie broken by the drum and fife sound- 
ing unwelcomely — 

"Don't you hear the General say, 
Strike your tents and march away." 

Seeing the reluctance with which the men 
moved off, the officers resorted to a ruse to cheer 
them up. They stated that Canales, with seven- 
teen hundred men, w^as stationed a few miles 
ahead for the purpose of opposing our march. 
This rumor appeared extremely plausible, from 
the fact that we had known for several days that 
a force of several hundred cavalry had been 
dogging our rear, and occasionally hovering on 
our flanks. The ruse succeeded, and the men 
moved cheerily forward, animated by the hope 
of firing a few Christmas guns into the robber 
band of Canales. Oa the troops pressed ; now 
9 



194 REMINISCENCES OF A 

traversing wastes of cactus — now ascending 
ridges, and now fording stream after stream, 
along the banks of which were tall forests of 
live oak and ebony, with their rich undergrowth 
abounding in bearing, peccaries and wood-hens, 
while long vine-shaped cactuses were creeping 
along the topmost boughs and dropping their 
spiny fingers above the road. 

Passing through the small town of Hidalgo, 
we encamped four miles beyond, worn down 
with fatigue and somewhat vexed at not having 
met Canales. 

From some indications that he had discovered 
in Hidalgo, Gen. Quitman supposed that Rincon 
Falcon, the commander of the body of the enemy 
that h2^d been lurking in our neighborhood for 
several days, would enter Hidalgo at night to 
obtain information, determined to dispatch a 
secret body of men for the purpose of capturing 
Falcon. It was a hazardous expedition, and 
ten picked men were chosen and placed under 
Col. Kinney and Capt. Foster. As we had no 
cavalry, those of us who were chosen were 
mounted upon the best horses the camp afforded, 
and under cover of the night, we returned to 
Hidalgo; but after a patient search of several 
hours, we were compelled to return to camp 
without accomplishing our purpose. 

After a severe march on the 27th, the scouts 
reported the enemy in front. The column was 
halted — the advance and rear guards were 
strengthened, and we moved forward in battle 
array. 

We had all along expected to have a severe 
battle at or near Victoria. We had received 
accounts that Gen. Urrea with a large force was 
awaiting our arrival before Victoria, and we 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXFCO. 195 

had been fVeqnently kept under alarm by the 
reports of the Mexicans, that the enemy were 
only a few miles ahead of us, and ready to meet 
us. But this day they were actually in sight, 
and though we expected to encounter five times 
our number, we nerved ourselves and moved for- 
ward with alacrity. After a few hours painful 
marching, we reached the Hacienda of Doctor 
Potsi, a Frenchman, and here we found the 
camp fires of the enem}^ which they had left 
only a short time before. The sugar farm of Dr. 
Potsi is the largest and most perfect one that I 
ever saw in Mexico. His house was an elegant 
and comrnodious structure, and the grounds 
about it were laid off* into extensive gardens 
and orange-orchards, vi^hich, like the gardens of 
the Hesperides, were groaning with golden fruit- 
age. 

On the 29th our column entered Victoria, a 
few minutes after the enemy, two thousand in 
number, had evacuated it. We had confidently 
expected that the enemy would make an obsti- 
nate resistance at Victoria, and it was with feel- 
ings of pleasing disappointment that we saw 
the stars and stripes go up in bloodless triumph 
above her walls. 



198 EEMINISCENCES OF A 



CHAPTER XXI. 



Arrival of Generals Taylor and Patterson with their respective 
columns — Col. May falls into an ambuscade — Union of the 
Tennesseans -General Pillow — Victoria and its mountains — 
Sappers and miners move off towards Tampico — Twiggs fol- 
lows — Despatches from General Scott — General Taylor ordered 
to return to Monterey — General Patterson and Pillow move off 
— Passing the tropic — Remarks — Order of an army in motion- 
Rio Folorne — Appearance of the country — Sierra de La Vacca 
y Cabra — Prairies, Palmetto Groves — Altamira — Laguna de 
Los Esteros — Scenery — Beauty of the Lake, islands and for- 
ests — Tampico — Rio Panuco. 

Having taken quiet possession of the city, 
General Quitman encamped the army a short 
distance without it, and awaited the approach 
of General Patterson's column. Small bodies 
of the enemy's cavalry were still hovering 
around our camp, but as we had no cavalry 
and but one battery it was impossible to pursue 
them with any effect. 

On the 4rh of January, Gen. Taylor, with 
General Twiggs' division, arrived from Mon- 
terey just as General Patterson, with General 
Pillow, arrived from Matamoros. We had heard 
distressing rumors with regard to General Tay- 
lor's command, and it was with feelings of 
extreme gratification that we again beheld the 
old General and the veteran Twiggs without 
scathe or scar. We learned that when near 
Linares, General Taylor had sent Lieut. Colonel 
May to explore a pass that led through the 
mountains near that point. Colonel May, in 
obedience to this order, had explored the pass, 
and when returning by another he -entered a 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. * 197 

deep and dark barranca, or canon — while slowly- 
wending his way along the bottom of the bar- 
ranca, which was so filled up with rocks and 
boulders, that his men were forced to dismount 
and lead their horses in single file along the 
narrow pathway, the enemy suddenly appeared 
far up on the cliffs above him, and endeavored 
to annihilate his little command by rolling huge 
stones into the ravine. Resistance was vain, as 
the enemy were far beyond the reach of the 
carbine, and it was impossible to scale the 
heights and drive them from it. The Colonel, 
therefore, forced his men through the pass, and 
fortunately escaped with the loss of only eleven 
men and his pack mules. 

General Patterson brought with him the Ten- 
nessee cavalry, and now, for the first time dur- 
ing the campaign, the three regiments from 
Tennessee were together. A new organization 
of brigades now^ followed, and it was with feel- 
ings of pride and pleasure that the Tennesseans 
took their position, side by side, as a Tennessee 
brigade, commanded by their own gallant and 
heroic Pillow, who, however much he may have 
been and yet may be aspersed and persecuted, 
3^et by his constant kindness to our sick, and his 
assiduous attention to the interests and necessi- 
ties of this brigade, has gained a place in their 
affections, which, if they are not wholly dead 
to gratitude, even defamation can never obliter- 
ate. Yet it was not without affecting emotions 
that the "Bloody First" departed from under 
the command of the noble and true-hearted 
Quitman, who had so gallantly stood our god- 
father in our fearful christening upon the plains 
of Monterey. 

Victoria, the capital of Tamaulipas, is situa- 



198 REMINISCENCES OF A 

ted in a fine fertile tract of country, and con- 
tains some four thousand population. The town 
lies near the base of the Sierra Mndre range. It 
is a beautiful city ; the streets are laid off at right 
angles, and are well paved, and the houses are 
neat and well built- Here we first saw the 
cactus gigantei in great abundance, ^nd here it 
is used for hedging. There is a kind of an agua- 
diente, or rum, -made here which is of such 
strength that it smokes like the strongest acid. 

A pass penetrates the mountains at Victoria, 
and the town carries on a considerable trade 
between Soto La Marina and Tula. 

There is a natural curiosity near Victoria; it 
is an immense inclined plane.. It is formed of a 
smooth white strata, which extends several hun- 
dred 3^ards up the side of the mountain, and is 
inclined at an angle of about fifty degrees. 
The mountains about Victoria are lower and 
more- regular than those about Monterey, and 
those about Victoria are clothed with grass and 
low trees, while those about Monterey are bare 
and naked. I set out with a party to ascend the 
high mountain which hangs over Victoria. 
Starting early in the marning, we toiled up the 
the steep side of the mountain for half a day. 
No regular order could be observed in the rock. 
Huge rocks were scattered over the mountain 
side, and immense boulders were here and there 
piled together in vast heaps. A variety of aloes 
were strewed along the mountain, and multitudes 
of hardy prickly pears were clinging to the 
rocks. At the top of the mountain were post 
oaks, and the broad-leafed century plant, with 
its tall stem crowned with clustering corymbs, 
while the few cactuses that could be seen were 
totally devoid of spines and prickles. Not an 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 199 

insect, not a living thing, save a butterfly was to 
be seen upon the summit. The prospect from 
the summit of the. mountain vi'ell repaid us for 
our toil. The clouds were floating far away 
below us, and sweeping over the lovely plain 
that spread out beneath, the streams glittering 
in the sunshine, could be traced through all their 
mazy meanderings. Four thousand feet below 
us, at our very feet, lay the city, and the tent- 
dotted plain beside it. Behind us "Alps piled on 
Alps successive rose." Remaining an hour on 
the mountain, we commenced the descent, which 
we found infinitely more difficult than the as- 
cent, and gained the camp at sunset. 

Everything being again ready for moving, the 
sappers and miners were thrown forward on the 
13th of January, to pioneer the road towards 
Tampico. The next morning found the division 
of Gen. Twiggs in motion, and General Pillow 
received orders to move his brigade on the 
15th. 

On the night of the 14th, Captain Haynes, of 
the Tennessee cavalry, came in with a large 
supply train from Matamoras ; he likewise bore 
a despatch from Gen. Scott to Gen. Taylor, which 
notified Gen. Taylor that Gen. Scott had assumed 
the command of the army, and that he ordered 
General Taylor to send forward all the regulars, 
with Twiggs, and all the volunteers that he could 
possibly spare ; while Gen. Taylor himself was 
to return to Monterey and resume the command 
of the upper line. In pursuance to this order, 
Gen. Taylor concluded to retain only the Mis- 
sissippi regiment, May's Dragoons, and Bragg's 
Batter3^ 

On the 15th, Gen. Pillow, accompanied by 
Gen. Patterson, set out for Tampico. Our regi- 



200 REMINISCENCES OF A 

ment moved off with melancholy feelings ; we 
had just received the parting address of General 
Taylor, and we had much the same feelings a 
child has when parting forever from a father. 

A few miles from Victoria, and we passed the 
tropic of Cancer and entered the torrid zone. It 
was not until we approached this latitude, and 
had reached Victoria, that we experienced those 
terrible winds called northers. They are usu- 
ally from twelve to twenty hours duration, and 
are always preceded by a day or two of calm, 
warm, and sultry weather. 

Our first day's march brought us to the lovely 
stream of San Rosa. It is strange what a re- 
markable ignorance the Mexicans have with 
regard to the name of their rivers. I remember 
to have asked the name of a river in a crowd 
of intelligent Mexicans, and I obtained from 
five persons as many different names for the 
river before them. A river seems to have no 
common name among them, but is called by 
different names at different places. 

The rose wood, ebony and lignum vitas totally 
disappeared as we entered the tropics, and new 
trees, with new species of cactus, began to ap- 
pear along our route. After leaving the San 
Rosa, we passed through a singularly dreary and 
desolate country; for two days not a ranch or 
any sign of habitation was to be seen ; low, flat, 
table-topped hills lay along the route, crowned 
with occasional clumps of low trees, intermixed 
with cactus gigantea, whose prickly stems run 
up into tall columns, each with seven deep flutes, 
and surmounted by a kind of long, fine wool, 
which, although white, has won for this cactus 
the name of "negro head." This species of cac- 
tus not unfrequently grows to the height of thirty 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. SOl 

feet, and the main stem is sometimes eighteen 

inches or two feet in diameter. The 17th 

brought us to the foot of a high table hill, whose 

sides were covered with piles of charred and 

blackened scoria. The vast piles of loose, up- 

j turned, and disjointed stones, and the air of 

I confusion that reigned all around, brought to 

' mind Ovid's "Non bene junctarum, discordia 

^semina rerum." 

From the top of the hill could be seen the 
I two other divisions of the army, that of Twiggs 
; in front and Quitman's in the rear of us, and 
I each a day's march distant. It may not be un- 
j interesting to many of my readers to state the 
manner in which our army moved. An army 
j i^ divided into companies, regiments, brigades^ 
! divisions, and grand divisions. Ten companies 
I form one regiment, two or more regiments form 
I one brigade, one or more brigades form a divi= 
I sion, and one or more divisions form a grand 
' division. Our army usually moved by brigades 
' — each brigade preceded the next by a day. 
! When a brigade is about to be piit in motion, it 
is drawn up with the senior regiment on the 
! right or front ; if there is cavalry, portions of it 
are detailed to act as advance and rear guards; 
if not, one or more of the front companies of the 
front regiment are thrown forward half a mile oi* 
more as advance guard, while one or more com- 
panies from the front of the rear regiment are 
detailed to act as rear guard, and it is their duty 
to keep in the rear of the whole brigade and its 
train. Having thus detailed the advance and 
rear guards, the advance is thrown forward — • 
then follows the artillery — then the first regiment 
in two files of men— then the other regiments in , 
9* 



2d,^ REMINISCENCES Of A 

order— then the ammunition train comes on- 
then the provision and baggage train — and last- 
ly the rear guard. On arriving at camp, the 
advance halts ; the commanding General, who 
usually accompanies the advance, points out the 
encampment, and as the regiments come up, they 
are formed in front of their respective campsj 
and the order is given " By heads of companies 
to the rear into column^ — march!" when the 
companies file back, stack arms, and. encamp 
upon the ground where they stand. Camp fires 
are then lit ; the guards are posted, and when 
tattoo sounds, the rolls are called, and the men 
make their beds upon the hard earth, and sleep 
till three in the morning, when the reveille is 
sounded, the waning camp fires are relit, and 
breakfast is dispatched, Then comes the " Gen- 
eral," when the baggage is packed, the men are 
drawn up, and daylight finds the line in motion. 
A regular alternation ensues each day among the 
companies and regiments. The regiment that 
moved in front yesterday, falls in the rear to- 
day, and the company that is in front of its regi- 
ment to-day will be to-morrow in the rear, and 
thus until each regiment and company is suc- 
cessively in front and rear. It is a magnificent 
spectacle to see a large army put in motion : to 
stand upon some height in advance and watch 
the decampment. There come the advance 
guard, the artillery, and the long line of infantr\% 
with their white haversacks, their shining belts 
and canteens glistening in the rising sun beam?, 
while the rattle of their armor and trapping >, 
and their heavy measured tread breaks sullen y 
upon the ear: far behind, the white tops of the 
wagons may be seen debouching from the camp. 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 203 

like some huge serpent unrolling from its coil 
and winding its way along the sinuous road 
with its vast unwieldy length. 

Crossing, on the 19th, the Rio Folorne, the 
largest tributary of the Santander, we entered 
upon a country quite different in appearance 
from that we had previously passed over. Ex- 
tensive rolling prairies stretched away off to 
the right and left, and were covered with a long, 
coarse, dry grass, which being fired afforded us 
that magnificent spectacle of a prairie on fire. 
Occasionally half a day would be spent in tra- 
versing an immense grove of tall palmettos, 
sixty feet in height ; their tall, bare stems were 
crowned by fanning crests, while birds of gaiidy 
hues flitted to and fro in the foliage, and tuned 
their mellow notes to nature's sweetest melodies. 
Here and there were deer bounding through the 
long waving grass, while the sharp crack of the 
rifle told too plainly that the hunter was not an 
idle spectator in this Elysian scene. Passing 
through these groves, the prairies would again 
appear, with herds of wild horses galloping 
away over their mazy knolls in native freedom. 

The 20th brought us in view of the lofty Sier- 
ra de La Vaca y Cabra, (Mountain of the Cow 
and Goat,) the most singularly fantastio moun 
tain that we had' ever seen. Springing from a 
level plateau, its huge base rose up at first with 
a gentle ascent, like the pedestal of a pj^amid, 
till at length a tall column shot perpendicularly 
upwards for a thousand feet, with its top carved 
and scolloped into scores of curious beaks, dis- 
playing in its tout ensemble one of nature's most 
capricious vagaries. At the foot of this lofty 
mountain, to the right lay the plain of Los GalloSy 
in which is situated the town of Santa Barbara, 



S04 REMINISCENCES OF A 

famous in Mexico for its manufacture of leather 
and saddles. 

Passing through the beautiful village of Ala- 
mitos, we discovered far away to our left a 
romantic looking town situated upon the pre- 
cipitous ledge of a lofty hill, forcibly recalling 
to mind the castellated cities of Ariosto Ludo- 
vico. At length we reached Altamira, one of 
the oldesttownsin Mexico, and with Mr. Bullock, 
an English traveller, I could not help exclaim- 
ing, "What a place to be called Altamira ! " A 
few tolerable houses, a church, a number of 
adobe huts and cane-jacales, are all that is left 
of this once flourishing commercial town. Ah 
tamira, however, from its proximity to the coast, 
afforded us delicacies and luxuries, such as we 
had not seen since leaving the States. 

Leaving Altamira, we marched along the 
borders of the large lake of Esteros, through a 
dense forest of tropical trees, and at length en- 
camped upon the edge of the lake, within ten 
miles of Tampico. Here we encamped at the 
hacienda of Encarnacion, a beautiful spot, situ» 
ated upon a high point of land that overlooks 
the bright waters of the placid lake, while tall 
forests of bay, oak, palm, caoutchouc and other 
trees of the tropics, were growing in indigenous 
luxuriance around. Here it was concluded to 
halt and allow us a few days to recuperate after 
our long march of seventy leagues from Victoria. 

After four days rest, we were again ordered to 
strike our tents and resume the march. Enter- 
ing a low sandy bottom, our road led us along 
the edge of a lagoon, and through a forest of 
peculiar beauty and density. This march was 
terrible to the infantry ; at every step the foot 
sunk to the ankle in the jiand, and being weighed 



CAMI^AIGK IN MEXICO. SO 5 

do^yn with their armor, it was no easy task 
for the men to toil through such a heavy and 
unstable soil. But, notwitstanding the labor, 
this was by far the most pleasant march we had 
ever made ; for scenes of surpassing loveliness 
lay around on every side. Here lay the glassy 
bosom of the lucid lake, studded with a thousand 
emerald islets, each belted with zones of varie- 
gated hues, one after one they came in view, 
and as the eye gazed upon them in dreamy 
pleasure, they appeared to rise, as if by magicj 
from the mirrored lake, and bright as the fabled 
isl^and of Atlantis. Scores of long, narrow /?e= 
roguas, each scooped out from some huge tree= 
trunk, and laden with rich and luscious fruits 
were gliding hither and yon upon the limpid lake. 
Myriads of widgeons, teal and wild-fowl were 
disporting around the flag-bound islands, while 
far away over-head were flights of geese and 
cranes, wending their way southward — still 
southward, even in the tropics, and their wild 
sonorous notes, which w^e had so often heard in 
other latitudes," were forceful reminiscences of 
our far distant homes. 

Here spread out a vast, dense forest, dark with 
perennial verdure. There w^-is the great bay 
tree with its varnished leaves, the wide spread- 
ing banyan tree, {ficus religioza) supported by a 
hundred bough-shot trunks, the live oak with its 
vast, ponderous branches, and the plum-leafed 
palm with its peculiar cortical structure. Be- 
neath is a rich dendritic undergrowth, springing 
up from a vast and impervious waste of barbed 
//^c/mo-tf^, or flag-leafed aloes. Innumerable va- 
rieties of orchides and other parasites are cling- 
ing and blooming upon the trunks and branches 
of the trees. Scores of chatoyant lizards, some 



206 ilfiiMiNlSCENCES OF A 

four feet in length, are frolicking and basking in 
the sun-lit spots. Thousands of parrots, parro- 
quettes, and mackaws of all hues, shapes and 
sizes, are screaming and chattering in nois}* con- 
clave overhead in the topmost boughs. 

Occasionally a species of raccoon, the mapa- 
the, with its long, large tail, and prehensile snout, 
may be seen feeding tamely in the tree tops. 
There, in some small, woody hollow, is a neat 
little ranch, with its patches of maize, cane, and 
bS,nnanas, and with reeking kilns of charcoal, 
preparing for the market in the city. Far away, 
beyond the f^irther borders of the lake, can be 
seen the blue hills in the distance, the last of the 
Sierra Madre chain, which, for five hundred 
miles, we had followed up, until gradually de- 
pressing they at last bore aw^ay to the south- 
w'est, and were lost in a succession of low peaks 
upon the banks of the Panuco* 

There w^as not a heart that was not cheered 
and invigorated by this lovely prospect, the soft- 
ness of the scenery, the luxuriance of the forests, 
and the perpetual spring that reigned every- 
where forced upon us the consciousness that we 
were indeed in the garden of the tropics. And 
then the soft, salubrious sea-breeze moistened 
our brows and hair, and the wild roar of the 
surges, mellowed by distance, swelled up their 
welcome music to our ears. Winding through 
the forest, w^e at length reached the top of alow 
hill, when Tampico, the queen city of Mexico, 
broke upon our view ; and it was with difficulty 
the soldiery could repress a shout as their glad 
eyes fell upon the stars and stripes waving in 
proud triumph over the white walls and green 
gardens of the city. Yonder flows the slow, 
sluggish Panuco, in bold leisure, like some rich 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 201 

Cacique, traversing in luxuriant ease his large 
domains. Now, if flows through green hills and 
woody slopes : now vast, cultivated fields skirt 
its banks : and now wild, unbroken forests 
stretch along its borders, till at last it sweeps 
lazily before the city, where its broad bosom is 
bristling with spars and masts, and then it rolls 
along to disembogue itself into the gulf, whose 
white-capped breakers are seen rolling seven 
miles away. Marching through the main street 
of the city, we reached a large, level plain, and 
encamped a half mile below the city. 



CHAPTER xxir. 

Tampico and the surrounding country— Its harbors— Its climate 
' — Its commercial advantages-— Its market— Tampico Viejo or 
Old Tampico — Laguna de Jamaihua and Gen. Cos — Wreck 
of the Ondiaka and narrow escape of Col. De Russey from 
Gen. Cos — Expedition against Soto La Marino. 

Tampico is situated seven miles from the Gulf, 
on the Panuco river. The present town, con- 
taining some fifteen thousand inhabitants, has 
sprung up since the revolution, and is built upon 
an admirable site just below the junction of the 
large lake of Esteros with the Panuco. 

With the broad river, twelve hundred yards in 
width in its front, the Lake of Estero above it, 
and the smaller one below, Tampico stands upon 
a peninsular elevation most eligible for defence ; 
and indeed since it has fallen into American 
hands posts have sprung up on every side, and 
one cannot approach the city from any quarter 



20S EEMINiSCENCES Of A 

without having a dozen black-mouthed doga of 
war grinning in his face. 

For league on league in every direction around 
Tampico, the country is clothed with the most 
exuberant growth of tropic timber, and the soil, 
a rich sandy loam, is of surpassing fertility and 
produces all the staples of the States almost 
spontaneously, and the sugar cane attains a 
growth unequaled in any other part of the world. 
And yet, notwithstanding its unsurpassed ad- 
vantages for the culture of this product, scarce a 
sugar farm is to be seen. 

Tampico is the only spot I have ever seen 
where the mind could fully realize its concep- 
tion of a tropic clime. On every side the 
beauties of nature vie with the picture that the 
most imaginative fancy may have painted of 
tropic scenery. The moment the stranger sees 
the lake-locked city, with its shrubs and flowers, 
the perennial spring that reigns in the unfading 
verdure of the forests, the fairy islands freckling 
the limpid lakes, and feels the balminess of the 
perfumed air, the involuntary confession steals 
from him, that here his eye hath found his fancy's 
tropics. Tampico is the most Amei'ican town to 
be seen in Mexico — its inhabitants have that 
active business air of American city population, 
and as an inevitable consequencCj signs of pros- 
perity may every where be seen. The shelves 
of the merchants are well stored with goods, and 
the active and increasing trade with the interior 
affords a.mple field for extensive commercial 
schemes ; and the market, unsurpassed by any 
in the States in point of variety, is well stocked 
with all kinds of fish, flesh and fowl, and with 
innumerable varieties of vegetables and esculent 
herbs unknown in our markets. If this city 



CAMPAIGN m MEXICO. 209 

could once come under the regulation of a more 
enlightened policy than the present system of 
government in Mexico is capable of affording, 
it would become the most commercial and valu- 
able port on the whole sliores of the great Amer- 
ican Adriatic. 

Tampico is said by Humboldt to be the best 
harbor on the Gulf, and it is certainly far prefer- 
able to Vera Cruz. The bar, at the mouth of 
the river, offers a considerable obstruction to 
vessels entering the river, but this might be 
easily obvia'ted, by proper dredging machines, as 
even under the action of our steamers, the depth 
of the water on the bar has been increased from 
fifteen to seventeen feet. Once over the bar, 
and the Panuco affords safe and commodious 
moorings for the largest vessels, and is navigable 
for small steamers nearly two hundred miles 
above its mouth. If Tampico is the best harbor 
on the Gulf, it has likewise the most salubrious 
climate of any city on the shores of the Gulf, 
and it is less prejudicial to strangers, since the 
vomito rages here with less malignance than 
in any other city it visits. It has always been a 
cause of astonishment to travelers, that the 
Mexicans have preferred Vera Cruz to Tampico 
as a port of entry. It is said that the road from 
Tampico to the city of Mexico could have been 
constructed far more easily and at far less cost 
than the great National road leading from Vera 
Cruz to the valley of Anahuac. Indeed, it was 
once proposed to construct a canal from the 
valley of Mexico to Tampico, and the route was 
actually surveyed for that purpose, but the 
scheme was finally relinquished, net because it 
was impracticable, but because, in the unstable 
state of Mexico, it would have proved unprofit- 



210 REMINISCENCES OF A 

able. The difference in the distance from Tam- 
pico and Vera Cruz to Mexico is scarcely ten 
miles ; yet, by some strange infatuation, the 
Mexicans, since the days of Cortes, have obsti- 
nately persisted in conducting strangers to their 
capital through Vera Cruz, the most deadly dis- 
trict of the Tierra Caliente, where the vomito 
prieto, like some fell Harpy', rages with insatiate 
spite, breathing its infectious poison in the air 
and scattering death from its pestilential wings. 
No wonder the yet unchristianized and super- 
stitious Mexicans recognized in this fearful vis- 
itant their great god, Huitzilopotchli, who has 
returned to avenge the wrongs of his ill-fated 
country, and now^ in the form of this lethiferous 
plague stands the uncompromising guardian of 
her shores j visiting with jealous and implacable 
hate, a fierce retilbution on those strangers who 
dare set feet upon her strand. 

Tampico, from its geographical position, its 
vast commercial advantages, its climate, and its 
fertility of soil, will, in less than half a century, 
rival 'Ne\Y Orleans as a commercial city. Its 
resources and peculiar advantages, have hitherto 
lain dormant, owing to the unprogressive charac- 
ter of its owners. That trait of Spanish char- 
acter, that pride which makes them adhere with 
such obstinate tenacity to old and antiquated 
customs, has clogged them in their career, and 
in the modern march of advancement it has so 
far prevented them from keeping pace with the 
improvements and progress of the age that for a 
century the Spaniards have remained stationary; 
and it is a well-established political principle 
that that nation which, for any considerable 
length of time, ceases to advance must necessa- 
rily recede in the scale of civilization. It is to 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 211 

this spirit that we are to attribute the decay of 
all the Spanish institutions on this continent, as 
well as their domestic debility in Spain ; and it 
is this, combined with the averseness with which 
the Indian races receive the instruction and 
adopt the arts of their more cultivated neighbors, 
which has made the Mexicans as a people, 
unequal to any of the great enterprises which 
characterise the present age. But it is contrary 
to the genius of the Y-ankee to suppose that 
when once his greedy eyes have fallen upon so 
extensive a tract of fair and fertile country, he 
will be long finding the means to possess him- 
self of its soil. 

In its mixed assemblage of strange buildings, 
Tampico might well be called the Moscow of 
America; here may be seen a cane or picket 
jacale; there a splendid structure of polished 
stone ; here a lowly adobe hut beside the large 
brick store-liouse of some rich merchant ; there 
the neat frame cottage, beside a strange uncouth 
building of cement and pebbles, forming walls of 
artificial conglomerate. And the roofs are as va- 
rious and anomalous as the style and structure of 
the buildings. The streets are strait, wide and at 
regular intervals. There are two good quays 
of wood, where vessels which lie at anchor in 
the river discharge their burdens. The city has 
two large plazas, each surrounded by elegant 
stores well filled with elegant goods. In the 
Plaza de Commercio is the market, which, is con- 
stantly thronged from dawn till dark by the in- 
dustrial Indians, who bring in their fruits, fowls, 
fish and vegetables from the lakes in long pi- 
rogues. In the plaza is the American flag-staff, 
erected in the centre of a large circular plat- 
form of stone, which was intended as the pedestal 



21^ REMINISCENCES OF A 

of a colossal statue of Santa Anna, which the 
good people of Tampico were about to erect in 
commemoration of the victory which Santa Anna 
gained here in 1828, over the Spanish troops 
under Gen. Barradas. If Santa Anna deserves 
a statue for any thing, it is for this battle ; for 
with seven hundred men he crossed from Tuspan 
to Tampico, over the lake Jamaihua, in canoes, 
and by the execution of a remarkable strategy^ 
defeated Barradas and four thousand men, and 
by this effective blow, put an end to the Spanish 
pretensions in Mexico. Methought the stars 
and stripes were a more fitting decoration to the 
plaza than would have been the statue of the 
pseudo-republican. 

When our flag was first unfurled from this 
staff, an aged Spaniard was heard inveighing, 
with lugubrious earnestness, against the per- 
tinacity with which that flag had pursued his 
fortunes. In broken English he exclaimed, "I 
was de Spanish consul in de Louisiane when dat 
dam flag was raise dere. I go to Pensacola, but 
Boon dat dam flag wave over me dere. I live 
den in de Texas, but quick dat dam flag still fol- 
low me dere ; says I by de Holy Virgin I go 
where dat dam hag never come — I come to 
Tampico, but here is dat dam flag again. I be- 
lieve if I go to h — 1 dat same dam flag will fol- 
low dere." And the old man wept as he turned 
away his eyes from that flag which, like his evil 
genius, had haunted him through life, and waa 
now mocking his heartfelt misery. *■ 

On the other side of the Panuco, opposite to 
Tampico de Tamaulipas, or New Tampico, is 
the dilapidated town of old Tampico, in the 
State of Vera Cruz. Its only objects of curiosity 
are some old buildings and fountains, which hare 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO, 213 

almost defied the tooth of time, and its groves of 
cocoa and banana trees, with its fine springs 
and beautiful gardens furnish a delightful retreat 
during the sultry days of a tropic summer. 
From old Tampico, the large lake of Jamaihua, 
a salt inland sea, stretches away towards Tus- 
pan. Over the extensive region along the bor- 
ders of this lake. Gen. Cos, the son of the great 
patriot, with his partisan troops, rules with 
almost undisputed sway. While our troops were 
rendezvouing at Tampico, the ill-fated Ondiaka 
was wrecked on the coast between Tuspan and the 
Panuco, with Col. De Russy, and a battalion of 
Louisiana troops on board. Gen. Cos, with 
eight hundred men, was immediately at hand 
and demanded a surrender. Colonel De Russy, 
though without ammunition, and almost without 
arms, obtained a night to consider on the propo= 
sition, when, burying his baggage in the sand, 
he succeeded, under cover of the darkness, in 
escaping by a forced march Iromthe hands of the 
wily Mexican. 

Soon after our arrival at Tampico, Gen. Pat- 
terson sent out an expedition against Soto La 
Marino, situated up the coast from Tampico, and 
near the mouth of the Santander. The vessel 
was wrecked, and the troops being compelled to 
return, the expedition was relinquished. Soto 
La Marino is the post where the unfortunate 
Mina and his associates landed in 1810, and 
where the Emperor Iturbide, after landing in 
1824, was seized and shot. 



214 REMINISCENCES OF A 



CHAPTER XXII. 

Embark for Vera Cruz— Storm at sea — Approach Vera Cruz — 
Anchor at Anton Lizardo — General Scott's reconnoisance — 
Preparations for landing — Morning of the 9th — Fleet moves 
up to Sacrificios — Gen. Worth's division debarks — Magnifi- 
cent spectacle — Other troops follow— Superstition — Review 
of the 10th — General Worth gains his position — Gen. Pillow 
takes Malibran, the magazine, and the sand-hill, and secures 
his position. 

By drilling five hours each day, the troops 
were prepared for the fatigues and dangers they 
were expectied to incur before Vera Cruz. By 
the last of February affairs were ripe for the 
attack on Vera Cruz, and the transports having 
arrived, the six thousand troops at Tampico 
were embarked about the first of March, and put 
en voyage for Anton Lizardo. 

On the 1st of March, the 1st Tennessee regi- 
ment embarked on the steamship Alabama, and 
on the 2d put to sea. Early on the 3d we lay to 
for an hour off the island of Lobos, which had 
been a rendezvous for the new regiments of vol- 
unteers and a portion of the regulars, but finding 
that Gen, Scott had gone down the coast, we 
weighed anchor and continued our voyage with 
a fine sea until the morning, of the 4th, when a 
violent norther blew up, and, though very near 
Vera Cruz, we were obliged to put the ship about, 
and stand out to. sea to gain an offing. The 
storm continued for fourteen hours with terrific 
fury. But the men had now become so hardened 
that they ceased to regard a storm with any 
feelings of fear. And even in the worst blasts 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 215 

of the storm, when the spray would sweep wide 
over the decks, parties were here and there 
seated on the leward side of the ship's boats, 
gambling and blaspheming, without one thought 
of fear. In the midst of the storm 1 heard some 
one exclaim, "A man overboard!" From a 
party of gamblers near me I heard, "Yes, there 
he is, poor devil, holding up his hands and call- 
ing for help !" "You need not call, old fellow, 
we can't come to you — come, boys, that's my 
deal." Without having risen from their seats, 
they resumed their play ; and as our vessel sped 
rapidly away, I could ever and anon see the 
form of the unfortunate wretch as he floundered 
in the waves, and looked vainly at the fast 
receding ship for some eflort to be made to save 
him. 

The morning of the 5th of March broke clear 
and unclouded ; the storm had ceased ; the sea, 
though nearly run down, was still waving in long, 
measured swells ; a light breeze was blowing, 
and the air possessed that clearness and trans- 
parency only to be seen upon this coast. It was 
just such a morning as displays this coast in its 
most fascinating aspect. There was the long 
line of coast, displaying alternately white sand 
hills and green crested knolls. Far away in the 
distance of ninety miles, the v\^hite, snow-capped 
peak of Orizaba stood boldly out against the 
blue sky. Away off in the south-east the blue 
peak of San Martin loomed up beneath the 
rising sun. As we stood upon the deck of our 
vessel, and caught object after object as they 
came in view, our eyes fell at length upon the 
white walls of Vera Cruz. As . we approached 
nearer the objects grew more and more distinct, 
until rising up from their island foundations, the 



216 REMINISCENCES OF A 

dark seaward battlements of San Juan de Ulloa 
frowned on us in sullen silence. The frigate 
John Adams, with her black rows of teeth, was 
tacking to and fro before the city, maintaining 
the blockade. There lay Green Island, where 
the ill-starred Somers capsized and sunk with all 
her crew. Nearer in towards shore the foreign 
men-of-war lay at anchor under Sacrificios. 
Thirteen miles down the coast was the strangely 
formed harbor of Anton Lizardo ; where the 
American fleet lay at anchor. As we moved oii 
a small gun boat dashed along side to ascertain 
our character, and then steaming down towards 
the fleet, we were soon at anchor in the harbor. 
Within an hour after our arrival the army flag 
ship Massachusetts hove in sight, with the Com- 
mander-in-chief on board. As the old General 
entered the harbor, he was greeted by the army 
and navy with cheers and salutes. 

During the evening of the 5th, the offing wag 
white with sails, and vessel after vessel of the 
American fleet, dashed into the harbor of Anton 
Lizardo. This strange harbor is formed by a 
sunken reef of madrepose, which running nearly 
parallel with the shore, encloses a large field of 
sea some three miles in width and several leagues 
in length ; and it has been famous as the harbor 
of Medelin since the time of Cortes. 

On the 6th, Commodore Connor, with General 
Scott, and the Generals of divisions, embarked 
in the steamer Petrita, and made a joint recon- 
noissance ef the coast, and after venturing under 
the very guns of the castle, selected the harbor 
of Sacrificios, some two and a half miles below 
the castle, as the most suitable point to effect a 
landing. Orders were issued throughout the 
fleet to make preparations to debark on Sunday, 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO, 217 

tlie 7th, but the barometer on that day indicating 
the approach of a norther, the execution of the 
order was postponed until the 9th. The morning 
of the 9th dawned with a sky most fitting for our 
enterprise. Signal after signal was thrown out 
and answered by the line-of-battle ships ; boats 
were bounding back and forth, bearing orders 
from the flag-ships to the various commanders. 
The monotonous stillness of the bay was broken 
by the sound of oars, as the ready tars of the 
squadron launched and manned the surf-boats 
and rowed along side the transports. 

On board the vessels, an activity of unmis- 
takable significance prevailed : the salt-sea rust 
was cleared from the arms ; rations were issued, 
canteens were filled, ammunition was distributed, 
and the men were formed upon the decks with 
arms in hand. The plan of operations had been 
disclosed only to the senior commanders ; the 
men knew nothing, save their duty. They strove, 
by a thousand surmises to interpret the marked 
pennons that were flung from the flag-ships ; but 
the bustle and busy action in the fleet needed no 
interpreta'"ion — their hearts knew too well that 
this betokened the first move against the Gibral- 
ter of America. 

Rumor had talked loudly of a large opposing 
force ready to dispute our landing. The long 
line of low beach, with its bulwarks of sand hifls 
receding from the shore, presented a hundred 
spots to which conjecture pointed as the scene 
of coming action. Yet every heart was firm, 
every nerve w^as strung, and every eye flashed 
with the excitement of anticipation. The decks 
of the frigates had been cleared, and they had 
received the troops from the smaller transports. 
*At length, 11 o'clock, A. M. came; a signal 
9 



218 REMINISCENCES OF A 

was hung from the flag ship Raritan, the ves- 
sels cleared their anchors, a light breeze was 
stirring, the steamers were in motion, the un- 
furled canvass of the sails grasped the wind, 
and the whole fleet of fall fifty first class vessels 
moved almost simultaneously from their moor- 
ings, and with their decks dark with soldiery, 
bore down on Sacrificios. 

Three hours had elapsed, and the harbor of 
Sacrificios was crowded with the anchored fieet. 
One by one, the vessels had come in and heaved 
anchor without the slightest accident or disorder. 
The sixty-five surf boats being numbered and 
brigaded were moved along side the proper 
transports, and filled with men. The Musquito 
fleet, consisting of the steamers Spitfire, Vixen, 
and five gun boats, were run close into the shore, 
and formed in line of battle parallel to the beach, 
to cover the landing. The surf boats, as they 
were separately loaded, formed in regular order 
in rear of the steamer Princeton. Towards sun- 
set, a signal gun from the Musquito fleet an- 
nounced that all was ready. Simultaneously 
the surf boats, with flags flying, loosed their 
cables, and, wheeling into line abreast by regular 
regiments and brigades, struck out for the shore, 
a mile distant. Surely a more magnificent sight 
could not be imagined than this scene presented. 
Even to an uninterested spectator, it would have 
been a scene of surpas; in j[ magnificence ; but to 
those who participated in the excitement, the 
suspense, the anxious longing for the issue, lent 
to the scene a glorious grandeur that can never 
be remembred without strange feelings of aching 
ecstacy. The sky was clear and serene — not a 
breath of air was stirring — the surf, with slow 
and measured swell, was sweeping lazily upon 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 219 

the shore— the sinking sun, tipping the far-off 
peak of Orizaba, flashed with golden light on 
the burnished arms and white trappings of the 
troops, who, in their broad line of boats, were 
striving with emulous excitement to be first on 
shore. From the decks of the vessels, the re- 
maining troops watched the scene with intense 
anxiety and painful suspense, their eyes glancing 
alternately from the boats to the shore, from 
whence they expected each moment to see the 
flash of arms. As they watched, every ear dis- 
tending for the thunder of artillery, every eye 
watching the issue, and every heart burning with 
suspense, a boat shot from the line, and, dashing 
through the surf, approached the shore, when, 
some officers leaping into the sea, w^aded through 
the surf towards the shore. This was General 
Worth and staff. Following the example of 
their gallant leader, the division leaped int > the 
sea, and each standard bearer strove first to 
plant his colors on the beach. It was but a 
minute ere four thousand five hundred men 
simultaneously gained the shore and planted the 
stars and stripes upon the neighboring heights 
without one hostile gun. Those in the fleet gave 
vent to their "suspense and pent up feelings in 
one wild burst of sympathetic joy. A long and 
loud huzza went up and ceased as the last sun- 
beam died upon the waters; the brass bands 
upon the vessels struck up the "Star Spangled 
Banner." 

The surf boats soon returned to the vessels, 
and the brigade of General Pilhnv. consisting of 
the three Tennessee and the two Pennsylvania 
volunteer regiments, were disembarked: then 
followed Generals Quitman, Shields, and Twiggs, 



220 REMINISCENCES OP A 

and by 10 o'clock, p. m., ten thousand troops were 
formed upon the shore. 

Thus terminated the hmding of the American 
troops at Vera Cruz, which, in the various cir- 
cumstaaces attending it, has its only parallel in 
history in the landing of the British at Aboukir 
which, by a rather singular coincidence, happen- 
ed on the 9th of March, 1799. General Pillow's 
brigade landed just at dusk, the men leaping in- 
to the water and wading some some hundred or 
moie yards to the shore. Gen. Worth had post- 
ed his pickets and formed his division along the 
sand hills. The " Bloody First, " being the senior 
volunteer regiment, was ordered to the extreme 
left to guard against any night attack in that 
direction. Movingdown the beach, We ascended 
a sand hill, sinking to the knees at every step, 
and, forming in line of battle, r^ested on our posts 
with fixed bayonets and loaded guns. Frequent 
alarms called us to our feet, and thrice during 
the night our pickets upon the light encountered 
those of the enemy, when a sharp skirmish en- 
sued. It was during one of these alarms, that I 
observed among our men one of those strange 
superstitious thrills to which the stoutest hearts 
at times are liable. The firing upon the other 
end of the line had been quite brisk, but becom- 
ing more aiid more scattering, it at last ceased 
entirely. Our men were standing in line, each 
with this finger on his trigger, and momentarily 
expecting the enemy to make an attack upon 
our end of the line; while thus laboring under 
apprehensions of a night attack, and at no time 
could the mind be more easily imbued with 
superstition than when, in such a state, the loud, 
plaintive wail of a night hawk broke the breath- 
less silence. Scarce had it died away, ere it 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 221 

was answered by anoiher more wild and plain- 
tive than the first. This call and its rcponse 
woke a score of echoes, and for a few moments 
the whole chaparral seemed alive with moaning 
spirits; a kind of magnetic sympathy had been 
excited, which stole along our line in a vague, 
undefinable feeling of av;e. 

It was impossible to sleep for a longer time 
than a few minutes. Every mind was burdened 
with an intense feeling of suspense ; the firing 
upon our right indicated that the enemy were in 
our neighborhood, nnd we knew not what mo- 
ment they might make an attempt upon our end 
of the line, so it is impossible to conceive a more 
disagreeable position than the one our regiment 
was placed in on the night of the Sth. The 
night passed off with only the loss of two men, 
wounded in the picket skirmishing. Sunriye on 
the lOlh found the whole army, eleven thousand 
men, drawn up on the beach opposite 8acrificios, 
to receive orders and undergo a brief review 
before proceeding to take up their several posi- 
tions in the investment. The division of Gen. 
Worth was on the right; the volunteer division 
under Gen. Patterson in the centre ; and Gen. 
Twiggs' division on the kft. The Tennesseeans, 
but particularly the *• Bloody First," presented 
in their garb quite an unenviable contrast to the 
other troops : scant pay and hard service had 
long since banished all traces of uniform from 
our ranks, save nature's, strong traces of which 
however, might be seen through the huge rents 
of old shirts and tattered trowsers which, hang- 
ing in rags of every stripe and hue, rendered us 
as famous in our army as Falstaff's shirtless 
corps; while the other regiments around us were 



222 EEMINISCENCES OF A 

" nent, trimly dressed.'' It was not a little 
mortiiyip.g to our pride to find that our beggar- 
ly, tatleidemalion uspect was the subject of un- 
worrhy coriunent; but we were repaid for these 
refleclions when the passers-by, on hearing what 
regiment we were, would exclaim: "Ah! that 
the 1st Teimessee ! they've seen hard times. 
The}^ are the Monterey bovs, and they do look 
like th(^y'd fight." 

After remaining drawn up on the beach for 
some tim.e General Worth began to defile his 
troops, and throw them in position. Resting his 
right upon the beach, he extended his left into 
the interior, towards the rear of the city. The 
enemy's skirmishej's had been driven beyond 
Geneial Worth's line by a small battery placed 
upon a sand hill overhanging the beach, and 
Ge!ieral Worth gained his position without firing 
a gun. Gen. Pillow, commanding the first brig* 
ade in Gen. Patterson's division, next took up 
the line of march. Our regiment being the 
senior regiment of the volunteers, was placed 
on the right of the brigade. Taking our course 
through the sand hills, we moved be\ond Worth's 
position, and, by a difficult and flexuous route, 
gained the ruins of Malibran, some large, old 
buildings, situated in a ravine, and at the lower 
extremity of a large lagoon which stretches 
away along a narrow plain up to the very gates 
of the cit3\ Our skirmishers had been driving 
the enemy before them, but when we reached 
Malibran, the enemy were occupying the maga- 
zine, a large building some halt mile above us 
to our left ; from this point, they threw out a 
strong body of skirmishers, who attacked our 
light troops as they ascended the hill above the 
ruins. These being repelled, Gen. Pillow moved 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 223 

forward the first Tennessee, and, climbing the 
hill, drove the enemy from the magazine. Leav- 
ing Col. Campbell to hold this position, he head- 
ed the other regiments, and threw them beyond 
the railroad, and commenced the ascent of a 
high sand hill, which overlooked the cit)', and 
upon which a large force of the enemy were 
stationed. Scarcely had he commenced the 
ascent ere a large body of skirmishers attacked 
him from the chapari-al. Though doubly exposed 
from i'eingthe only one on horseback, he dashed 
at the head of his men into the thickest of the 
fire, and, driving the enemy from their cover, 
pursued them up the hill, and soon dislodged 
those that were stationed there, and the gallant 
2d Tennessee unfurled their banner upon the 
height. The en<'my immediately greeted them 
with a shower of balls from their heavy artil- 
lery, fi'om the batteries along the city walls. 
This was the last point of our position, and here 
ceased the labors of the day. The magazine 
height was the first position which we had 
obtained from whence a good view of the city, 
and the scene of our operations could be gain- 
ed, and the prospect was now most magnificent. 
We had been all day buried in the hollows and 
ravines, wading through a waste of deep, dry 
sand, while the vertical sun heated the motion- 
less air almost to suftbcation; but now a cool sea 
breeze had sprung up and lent a delicious tem- 
perament to the atmosphere. The setting sun as 
it sunk upon our left threw up in bold relief 
along the horizon the blue outlines of the cone 
of Orizaba, and the Cofl^re of Perote. Before us 
lay the city two miles distant, esconced within its 
green skirt of suburban groves; its red domes, 
white steeples, and turrets lit up by the rays of 



224 REMINISCENCES OF A 

the setting sun, towered up from amidst the white 
walls in truiy oriental beauty. To the right of 
the city the dark bulwarks of San Juan de Ulloa, 
with the towers, battlements, and bastions could 
be discerned; while here and there along the 
walls, the white wreaths of smoke and the red 
flame revealed, the presence of the huge artillery 
whose howling missiles came ever and anon 
whizzing or bursting near us. 

Upon ourright, the gpars and masts of the fleet, 
looming up in bold tracery, could be seen rocking 
to and fro with the billows; and on the interven- 
ing sand hills, numbers of men were incautiously 
looking down upon the city and its environs. 
At the foot, and to the left of the height upon 
which we stood, a railroad issuing from the city 
extended far into the campaign in our rear until 
it was lost to the eye amidst a succession of hills 
green with the richest foliage. 



CHAPTER XXIIl. 

The several brigades move into position and invest the city — 
Character of the country about the scene of our operations— - 
Obstacles encountered in the investment and siege — Opening 
of our batteries — The Musquito fleet stand in and fire into the 
city — Scene at night — Erection of new batteries — Affair at 
Medelin — Cessation of hostiUties and capitulation of the city. 

Gen. Pillow, through encountering the light 
troops of the enemy, and skirmishing at every 
step had gallantly carried and secured every 
point upon his position on the 10th, and early on 



CAMPAIGN IN IVIEXieo. ' S^5 

the 11th Gen. Quitman began to throw forward 
his brigade for the farther extension of our lines. 
Resting his right upon Pillow's left, he was about 
to deploy into position, when a brisk fire was 
opened on his line from the escopets of a party 
of light troops and lancers. A sharp skirmish 
ensued, but the steady advance of our troops 
soon dispersed the enemy and drove them in full 
flight towards the city, and Gen. Quitman secur- 
ed his position without farther molestation. 
Gen. Shields following immediately, moved past 
Gen. Quitman's left, debouching from the hol- 
lows, formed his brigade, without opposition, 
along the crests of the sand hills beyond General 
Quitman. 

The veteran Twiggs now advanced with his 
division of regulars, to extend the line over the 
yet unoccupied country, and thereby complete 
the investment. Moving in rear of the line 
already formed, he made his way through the 
tangled brush vi^ood, lifting his artillery over the 
steep loose sand hills, and drawing the enemy's 
fire as often as his line appeared w'ithin range of 
the city's guns. Thus encountering a thousand 
obstacles and impediments, his progress was 
slow and tedious, and it was not until the 13lh 
that he finally succeeding in gaining the beach 
above the city, and completed the investment. 

Having thus encompassed the city with a huge 
semicircle, with a radius of two and a half 
miles, and having cut off all communication 
with the interior, our army sat down before the 
city, and commenced the preparations for its 
reduction by siege. 

It would be impossible to conceive a country 
more unfitted for military operations than the 
region circumjacent to Vera Cruz, Encorn- 
10* 



226 REMINISCEXCES of A 

passing the city on every side are low, steep 
sand hills, varying- from thirty to two hundred 
feet in height. Some of these hills are bare, 
half covered wiih a dense chaparrel, from ten 
to twenty feet in height ; while many are com- 
pletely bare and formed of tine white sand,deepj 
loose, and rolling. In the narrow and numerous 
intervening valleys and ravines -the same sandy 
soil occurs, mostly shaded with a dense copse- 
wood, composed of matted mangles, ferns, the 
styrax, the heliconia, the cuoutchonc, the jalapa, 
the spice myrtle, and a multitudinous variety of 
other tropic plants, so locked and interlaced with 
vines anJ creepers as to be almo.-^t impervious to 
an advancing force. There are but few roads 
leading through the rough, uneven tract, and 
these traverse it at long intervals. 

It was over such a region as this that our army 
had to force its way before it could sit down 
before the cily ; and then came a protracted 
round of hardships and privations. Trenches 
had to be dug, breast works thrown up, batteries 
erected, and roads cut at night, wdiile the utmost 
vigilance and silence had constantl}^ to be exer- 
ci scd to avoid surprise or discovery. The enor- 
mous pieces of artillery had to be dragged 
through the ravines and lifted over the sand hills, 
at night, by the men. They were compelled to 
remain by reliefs twenty-four hours at a time in 
the trenches and on the heights, without water. 
Day and night they lay upon their ar<ms, and 
were constantly harassed by the enemy's guns 
and shells. During the day the heat was over- 
powering and scorching hot, for the meganos or 
sand hills, as Humboldt sjiys, were but "so many 
ovens where the ambient air was heated." These 
hardships were farther heightened by rains and 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 227 

the northers, which, accompanied by clouds of 
drifting sand, like the sand winds of the desert, 
rendered the atmosphere suffocating, and at night 
completely buried the sleepers beneath the sand. 
In addition to the obstacles thus opposed, the 
season too was most ill-suited to the enterprise 
we were undertaking. It was now approaching 
the vernal equinox, when those periodical winds, 
the northers, sweep the shores of the Gulf with 
almost continuous violence. And now, at in- 
tervals of scarce a day, norther succeeded north- 
er with such fury as to strew the whole beach 
with broken wrecks and the bodies of mules and 
horses. During their continuance, and for hours 
after their suhsidence, it was impossible to hold 
any communication between the vessels and 
the shore, and all our operations were suspended. 
Owing to such a multitude of difficulties and 
obstructions, our operations were greatly retard- 
ed, and fur twelve consecutive days the enemy 
poured his shot and shells into our line, without 
our returning a single retaliatory fire. How- 
ever, during this time our batteries were in 
course of erection, and we suffered but little loss 
from the enemy's fire. 

Gen. Worth, by the 22d, had by regular ap- 
proaches succeeded in erecting three mortar 
batteries within good range of the city, and 
mounting in all seven ten inch and four six inch 
cohon mortars. 

Gen. Scott, being now prepared to commence 
the siege, in conformity to the courtesies of war, 
sent a summons to the city to surrender; but the 
commanding general of the enemy. Gen. Mora- 
les, declined to surrender, and signified his inten- 
tion of holding out to the- last. About four 
o'clock in the evening of the 22d, a flame and 



228 HExMINISCENCES OF A 

cloud of smoke shot upwards from our batteries ? 
another and another followed in rapid succes- 
sion, and as the bursting bombs exploded above 
the city, a loud yell of frantic joy rose simul- 
taneously from our whole line, and the men 
laughed as they shouted " It has begun." Scarce 
had the reverberations of the first bomb died 
upon the air, ere a sheet of flame ran along the 
■whole battlements of the castle and the city 
walls, and the angry missiles from more than a 
hundred guns howled hideously around the ram- 
parts of our opening batteries. It seemed suf- 
ficient to have leveled the ramparts to the earth, 
but steadily the flashing flame mounting from 
our mortars' m.ouths told that the gallant spirits 
in charge were unflinchingly at work. 

At the same time that our batteries opened, 
Capt. Tatnal, with the Musquito fleet, advanced 
under cover of a small promontory within effec- 
tive range of the city, and for two hours poured 
into the city a shower of shot and shells. To- 
wards sunset he hauled off* for the night. At 
night the enemy silenced their round shot bat- 
teries and opened a heavy discharge of ten and 
fourteen inch shells. During the whole night 
the mortars on both sides were in constant 
activity. The contest now presented a splendid 
spectacle of grand and awful sublimit3\ There 
was the red flash as the belching flame shot up- 
wards from the mortar's mouth ; then the dull, 
heavy boom broke on the ear, and the bomb with 
its flaming fuse rose high in the air, rapidly at 
first, then slower and more slow till reaching its 
greatest height it bends and moves down, like a 
shooting meteor, until hid within the city walls, 
when up bursts the fitful, lurid glare, and anon 
the convulsing, crashing, and terrific thunder of 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 220 

the explosion comes up followed by a thousand 
echoes and reverberations through the walled 
streets of the city. Again and again, at scarce 
a moment's interval, may be heard and seen the 
boom, the death-star, and the awful exenterating 
explosion. The earth quaked and the air 
trembled as mortar echoed mortar, and the death- 
charged projectiles crossed each other in their 
fiery ascent, and descended with their dreadful 
detonations and pealing repercussions. Rocket 
after rocket shot from the walls, and leaping 
high in the air, burst with a loud report and 
and illuminated the night with a hundred vari- 
colored scintillations. Congreve after congreve, 
leaving its long luminous train, hissed like a 
fiery serpent along the earth and scattered its 
missiles spitefully around. 

At day-light on the 23d, the Musquito fleet 
weighed anchor and stood in towards the town; 
having advanced to within 700 yards of the city 
and three-fourths of a mile of the castle they 
hove to, in line of battle, w^ith springs upon their 
cables, and opened in fine style upon the town 
and castle, but the enemy opened such a brisk 
fire in return that Com. Perry hoisted the recall 
signal, and the fleet, after an hour's constant 
firing, stood out under short sail and withdrew 
from the attack having sustained but slight in- 
jury. The town and castle again renewed their 
fire on Worth's batteries, and the firing continu- 
ed with but little intermission throughout the 
day. At the suggestion of Gen. Scott, Com. 
Connor had landed three heavy thirty-two pound* 
ers and three heavy sixty-eight pound Paixhan 
guns from the navy, and by the morning of the 
24th these were placed in battery opposite Gen. 
Pillow's position, and in the works thrown up by 



230 RE^nNISCENCES O^ A 

his brigade. Thougli the battery was on a 
height within six hundred yards ot the wall, yet 
the vvo;'k was S3 masked by the chaparrel, and 
the operations had been conducted with such 
secrecy that the enemy did not discover ihe 
work until the sailors who manned it unmasked 
it to open on the city. The moment, however, 
the enemy discovered the battery, they concen- 
trated a terrific fire upon it, and for several hours 
kept it up with unabated vigor; but the intrepid 
tars worked their guns with equal alacrity and 
every shot told with terrible eflect upon the city. 
During the action the flag staff of a spiteful 
Mexican battery was thrice shot away by the 
guns of the naval battery, but its intrepid com- 
mander as often mounted the parapet, and in 
the very teeth of our guns, held up the flag with 
his hands until a new staft^ could be rigged up. 
Gn, Worth, in the meanwhile, had made acces- 
sions of several new mortars to his batteries, 
and having regularly advanced his parallel, 
succeeded in placing in battery during the night 
of the 24th a large battering train, consisting of 
two long twenty-tours and two eight inch Colum- 
bians or siege howitzers. Early on the '25th this 
battery, within five hundred yards of the walls, 
opened a destructive fire upon the adjacent por- 
tion of the city. All our batteries were now 
in full blast, and the crushing walls, the burning 
buildings and piles of smouldering ruins, wit- 
nessed with what destructive efi'ect our shells 
and shot were falling in the city. 

On the morning of the 26th, a rumor having 
reached head quarters that a strong force of 
Mexicans were lurking in rear of our line. Col. 
Harney, a gtillant son of Tennessee, with a 
squadron of dragoons, was ordered out to scour 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXidO, 5S1 

the country in search of them. It was at 
the same time reported to Col. Campbell, of the 
1st Tennessee regiment, that three of his men, 
while heaving, had been cut off by the Mexicans 
in rear of our camp. Capt. Cheatham, with two 
companies, was ordered to pursue the Mexicans 
and if possible rescue the men who werereporied 
captured. Capt. Cheatham soon lound the men, 
who had made their escape, and coming up with 
Col. Harney, they agreed to act in concert, and 
the Colonel ordered him to scour the chaparrel 
along the edge of the prairie, while he proceeded 
farther down the prairie in search of the enemy. 
The Colonel soon discovered them posted in 
strong force behind a barricaded bridge. After 
a short skirmish. Col. Harney fell back in order 
to reconnoitre the enemy's position. Captain 
Cheatham, with his two companies of infantry, 
now came up, and Col. Harnej^ determined to 
send back for artillery before he renewed the 
attack. In about two hours Lieut. Jiidd, with 
two pieces of artillery and Col. Haskell's 2d 
Tennessee regiment, reached the ground, follow- 
ed by Col. Campbell and Gen. Patterson with 
the 1st Tennessee infantry and a portion of the 
Tennessee cavalry dismounted. Col. Harney 
now ordered Capt. Cheatham, with Col. Haskell 
following, to deploy to the right and draw the 
enemy's fire, so thnt the artillery might be run 
up to bear upon the bridge. The other troops 
were formed on the left of the road. When the 
enemy expended their fire upon Cheatham and 
Haskell, Lieut. Judd dashed up with his artillery 
and fired several well directed rounds upon the 
head of the bridge, when the gallant Harney 
ordered the charge. Cheatham, being nearest 
the bridge, emerged from the cover, and with 



2S^ REMlS^SCfiNCES of A 

his company gallantly carried the bridge, and 
having fired on the retreating enemy, was tear- 
ing away the barricade for the dragoons to pass, 
wiien Col. Haskell came up, and with his aid the 
barricade was soon torn a-way. Col. Harney 
charged down at the head of his sqaudron, and 
clearing the breast-v/ork dashed after the flying 
enemy, and pursuing them to Medelin, overtook 
and sabred fifty. 

While this brilliant side scene was being en= 
acted, our batteries had silenced nearly all the 
enemy's guns, and at day-light on the 26th the 
enemy sounded a chamade and propositions 
were made for capitulation. Gen. Scott appoint- 
ed a commission consisting of Gen. Worth, Gen, 
Pillow, Col Totten, of the Engineers, and Capt. 
Aulick, of the Navy, to meet with the Mexican 
commissioners and agree upon the terms of sur- 
render. After two day's parley it was agreed 
that the town and castle, with all their arms and 
stores, should be surrendered to the possession of 
the United States, and that the Mexican troops 
should evacuate the city, lay down iheir arms, 
and be dismissed on the parole of their ofRcerSo 
The officers to be admitted to parole or remain 
prisoners. 

These terms were executed on the 29th, and 
the enemy having laid down their arms on a 
large plain south of the city, in the presence of 
Gen. Worth's and Gen. Pillow's brigade, took 
their way towards Alvarado and Medelin. As 
the last of Mexican troops emerged from the 
city, the tri-colored flag sunk upon town and 
castle with a national salute, and then the proud 
stars and stripes rose upon the captured ram- 
parts amid the peaceful thunders of artillery from 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 233 

Thus terminated this eventful siege, and it 
may well be ranked as one of the most brilliant 
achievements ever accomplished by American 
arms. The city and castle were in the most 
thorough preparation for defence, and had lor^g 
been deemed impregnable. The city v/as gar- 
risoned by five thousand troops, and the obslina-" 
cy with which they maintained the siege gave 
evidence that had we resorted to any other mode 
of attack than the bombardment, our loss would 
have swelled from fifty to one thousand. So 
varied were the operations in the reduction of 
Vera Cruz, that a field w^as afforded for every 
branch of the service, and that each and every 
one conducted their respective duties with zeal 
and alacrity, is established by the complete suc- 
cess which crowned every separate enterprise. 

To the general officers especial praise is due, 
for the ardor with which they performed their 
laborious duties. And the conduct of no one is 
more worthy of admiration than that of our 
much persecuted Pillow, and when the murky 
clouds of party rancor and political animosity 
shall have been dispelled by the revelations of 
time, truth and justice, history will give due 
praise to the actions of this gallant officer in this 
and subsequent engagements, and his name will 
yet be placed high in the storied rolls of fame. 



234 REMIXISCENCES .OP A 



CHAPTER XXrV. 

Vera Cruz and San Juau de Ulloa — The city walls and fortifi- 
cations — Capture of Alvarado — Preparations for marcliing 
into the interior — Gen. Twiggs sets out upon the march — 
Gen Patterson follows — Scenery along the road — Reach Plan 
del Rio — Orders for attack — Gen. Scott arrives — Gen. Twiggs 
turns the enemy's left — Battle of the 17th. 

The present town of Vera Cruz was built by 
the Count de Monterrey, about the latter part of 
the sixteenth century. The city stands upon 
the open sea, and the surge laves its seaward 
walls. A thousand yards in front of the city, 
and completely covering its island foundation, 
looms up the stupendous castle of San Juan de 
Ulloa, the boasted sentry of the city, serving not 
only to repel the attacks of men but to repulse 
the fury of the waves. This enormous fortress, 
overspreading an area of seven acres, was com- 
menced sixty-one years after the conquest, and 
and under different viceroys, was perfected at a 
cost of forty millions to the Spanish crown. 
Though it has always been held as impregnable, 
yet I believe it has scarcely ever offered a suc- 
cessful resistance. In 1603, an English corsair, 
despite the resistance of the castle, sacked the 
city and carried off seven millions of money, 
and confined three hundred prisoners upon the 
island of Sacrificios. This castle was the last 
foothold of the Spaniards upon Mexican soil; and 
although for nearly three years they held the 
Mexicans at bay, tRey were finally driven from 
it in 1825, and it fell into the hands of the Mex- 
icans. Again, in 1838, the castle was attacked 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 235 

and captured by the French squadron, and it was 
with difficulty Santa Anna repelled the attack 
upon the city. But notwithstanding these re- 
peated captures of this fortress, if in proper 
hands and in a proper state of defence it would 
be utterly unapproachable by any navy that rides 
upon the waters. Nearly three centuries have 
passed away since its first foundations were laid, 
and the furious winds and waves have beat piti- 
lessly upon its outer walls, but it has resisted 
unscathed the combined attacks of time and 
tide, and there it stands with its grim battlements 
black with the gaping mouths of four hundred 
heavy cannon, ready yet to resist the warring 
of a thousand years. 

The city of Vera Cruz contains an area of 
about 595,770 square yards, and enclosed by a 
brick wall, varying from ten to twenty feet in 
height, of two feet in thickness, and looped at 
every two and a half feet for musketry. Around 
the city are ten or twelve strong lozenge shaped 
forts, projecting from the wall of which they 
form a part, and each mounting from five to 
eight guns. At the two angles which the wall 
makes with the sea are two very strong fortifi- 
cations ; the one on the northern angle is called 
Fort Conception — the one on the opposite angle 
Fort St. Jago, each mounting some thirty heavy 
pieces of artillery. Outside the wall a shallow- 
dug ditch surrounds the whole city, and between 
the ditch and the wall the whole space is thickly 
set with prickly pears, a most formidable imped- 
iment to a storming force. So completely was 
the city fortified at all points against an assault, 
that it would have been almost impossible to 
have carried it by escalade. 

The area of the city being so small, great 



236 REMINISCENCES OF A 

economy in space is rendered necessary. The 
streets are narrow, and the buildings, several 
stories in height, rise square up from the streets, 
and nearly every foot of ground not occupied by 
the streets is covered with some building. 

The whole city is built of a white marigenous 
substance, a kind of efflorescing coral, called 
madrepore, or by the Spaniards piedra mucara. 

The city, like all others in Mexico, wears the 
aspect of decay. No new buildings are in pro- 
gress, and no repairs are made upon the old ; all 
seem wearing away, a fit type of the race that 
inhabits them. Here are old buildings which 
have born the shocks of centuries, with the 
bricks half worn away and the firmer mortar 
jutting from the joints. Here are old churches, 
with the date of by-gone centmries upon their 
carved facades, the elaborate mouldings upon 
their fronts falling away piece by piece, while 
their scarred roofs and domes, and crumbling 
cornices bear the marks of other wars than those 
of the elements and time, yet the lethargic race 
around look passively on at the prophetic rava- 
ges of decay without raising a hand to avert 
them. The only mark of improvement is the 
splendid Custom House, recently erected by the 
government, and the mole, which extends some 
two hundred yards beyond the walls into the sea. 
This mole is an elegant structure of stone, and 
is mounted by excellent cranes to facilitate the 
unlading of vessels. But nothing can more 
forcibly illustrate the want of energy and enter- 
prise in the Mexicans than the fact that this 
mole is built of granite from Quincy, Massa- 
chusetts, while a material equally as good could 
have been procured within ten miles of Vera 
Cruz. 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 237 

The climate of Vera Cruz, owing to a multi- 
plicity of causes, has been long considered the 
most fatal to strangers of all climates on the 
globe. 

The vomito prleto and the northers are the 
boasted bulwarks of Mexico, and it so happens 
that during the four months when the vomito is 
absent the northers prevail, so they almost en- 
tirely shut out strangers from the coast. The 
vomito did not make its appearance in Mexico 
until 1728, when it was then produced in some 
English sailors by excessive indulgence in fruits. 
There is not a doubt if the walls w^ere torn down 
from around the city, the streets kept clean, and 
the large marshes or lagoons in the vicinity 
drained, the health of the city would be greatly 
improved and the vomito almost entirely obvi- 
ated. The country immediately circumjacent to 
Vera Cruz is covered w4th drifting sand-hills for 
several miles in every direction. But once be- 
yond these hills and the soil assumes a different 
character, and numerous cultivated tracts are 
here and there espied amidst the dense forests, 
and the cocoa nut, the pine apple, the banana, 
the orange, the lemon, and the citron, are seen 
growing in native luxuriance ; while the whole ^ 
forest is fragrrait with the perennial bloom of the 
indigenous lime, and a thousand other grateful 
odors exhaled from innumerable flowers and 
blossoms peculiar to this voluptuous clime. 

Four leagues south-east of Vera Cruz is the 
small volcano of Tuxtla, joining wdth the Sierra 
San Martin; it had an eruption in 1799, covering 
the towns of Vera Cruz, Jalapa, and Oaxaca 
with cinders and ashes. 

The day after the surrender of Vera Cruz, 
General Scott ordered Gen. Quitman to proceed 



S3S REMINISCENCES Of A 

with a brigade of volunteers against Alvarado, 
thirty miles down the coast, and dislodge the 
Mexican garrison stationed there. Com. Perry, 
at the same time moved down a portion of the 
fleet to act conjointly with Gen. Quitman. The 
expedition was completely successful, and, leav- 
ing a man-of-war in the harbor, the forces 
returned to Vera Cruz without loss. 

By the 8th of April, a sufficient supply of 
mules and wagons had been landed for the trans- 
portation of ten thousand men, and Gen. Scott 
»having determined to advance into the interior, 
Gen. Twiggs, Avith his division of regulars took 
up the line of march for the table-lands along 
the main road leading to the city of Mexico. 

On the 9th, Gen. Patterson, with the brigades 
of Generals Pillow and Shields, set out for the 
march. Our road lay for three miles along the 
sea beach, above Vera Cruz, until we reached 
the village of Bergara ; we then diverged from 
the seaside and struck into a deep sandy road, 
which for seven miles led through the sand hills, 
or meganos, where not a breath of air was stir- 
ring, and it being mid-day the sun poured down 
on the reflecting sides of the arid sand hills, 
until the atmosphere te3ame as hot as the suffo- 
cating simoon of the desert — men fainted at 
nearly every step of this journey, until the road 
side was strewed with those unable longer to 
to continue the march. But still we continued 
the steady advance, and after a most oppressive 
march, encamped at the Puente de San Juan, 
which is a quarter of a mile in length, and is 
thrown over two small streams, near their 
junction. 

The next day, we resumed the march under 
better auspices, and soon passing the fine estate 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 239 

of Mango de Clavo, belonging to Santa Anna, 
our way led us through varied and diversified 
scenes — now our course lay through a rich forest 
of date palms and mock cocoa, with their 
long feather-leafed branches waving luxuriantly 
around us, while beneath were myriads of limes 
in native verdure, intermingled with arborescent 
ferns. Now we dived into a shady forest of pink 
catalpas, Abyssinian locusts, wischitas, and mi- 
mosas, where scores of noisy toucans were 
screaming vociferously from their ponderous 
beaks. Emerging from these valley scenes, we 
crossed a beautiful tract of undulating country, 
w^hich occasionally stretched away in gently 
weaving prairies, partially sprinkled with ferns 
and low mimosa, and dotted with innumerable 
herds of cattle from the estate of Magno de 
Clavo. Passing thus successively throTrigh the 
overarching arbors and arcades of luxuriant 
verdure, or over the easy slopes of the rich 
prairies, we soon came upon Passo de Oveja, a 
famous rendezvous for guerrilleros ; crossing the 
splendid stone bridge, a few miles brought us 
within view of a strong fort upon a high hill. 
As we approached it, the road turned downwards 
by an abrupt declination and deflection, and we 
found ourselves under the strong forts that 
command the Puente Nacional. The stronger 
of these forts is situated upon a high and precip- 
itous point formed by the approximation of two 
streams, which flow into each other at the foot 
of a high precipice on the opposite side of the 
ravine. Over the largest of these streams, just 
above its confluence with the other, is thrown the 
Magnificent Puente Nacional, lour hundred yards 
in length, with its seven arches of sixty feet 
span. A quarter of a mile beyond the bridge 



240 REMIXISCENCE3 OF A 

is another fine residence of Santa Anna, who it 
is said owns all the land lying between Vera 
Cruz and Jalapa. 

One cannot but remark the strange contrast 
this residence presents to the miserable cane 
jacales or huts of the peones that surround it. 

Continuing our course over a splendid graded 
road, we reached, on the r2th, the picturesque 
region about Plan del Rio, where we found Gen. 
Twiggs encamped, after having a slight skirmish 
with the enemy. We found the road in our 
front in possession of the enemy, who were 
posted in strong force along every commanding 
height. Orders were immediately issued to 
prepare for an attack, and the volunteers were 
ordered to assault the front works of the enemy 
before daylight on the 13th, while the regulars 
should, at the same time, bring on an attack 
upon the rear works. Owing, however, to the 
fatigue of the volunteers, the order was revoked 
during the night. It was repeated the next 
night, and again revoked, owing to information 
that Gen. Scott was moving up with General 
Worth's division as reinforcements. On the 
15th, Gen. Scott came up, and the engineers 
were for two days kept in active reconnoissance, 
when it was ascertained that the enemy were 
strongly fortified in an admirable position. 
Their front line of works, some two miles from 
our camp, were thrown up across the crest of a 
narrow ridge which overlooked the road on one 
side, and on the other was banked by a rugged 
barranca, eight hundred feet deep. Some two 
miles in the rear of this line, a strong battery 
was placed in tlie road which raked the only ap- 
proach for a mile. Above this battery another 
work was erected upon a high conical hill. In 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. "241 

rear of this latter work was the main camp of 
the enemy, protected by another battery. 

On the 17th, General Scott, having made his 
dispositions for battle, renewed the orders for 
attack. Gen. Twiggs, supported by General 
Shields, was ordered to attain, by a circuitous 
route, the enemy's rear and secure a suitable 
position for the erection of a battery. The 
column under Twiggs was soon in motion ; fol- 
lowing the National road for some two miles, 
until it came within range of the enemy's guns, 
the column deflected to the right, and by a road 
cut for the purpose cautiously kept beyond the 
enemy's guns, succeeded in avoiding all the 
fortifications, and turning the enemy's left. 
Perceiving this movement, the enemy threw for- 
ward several thousand troops to encounter our 
advance. This was commanded by the gallant 
Col. Harney, who, with the rifles in front, moved 
forward to the attack, and in a few minutes 
became hotly engaged vvdth the enemy ; but our 
troops steadily advanced, and repulsed the enemy 
at all points until their whole force fell back upon 
th<3ir entrenchments, and left our column in quiet 
occupation of a strong height within a short dis- 
tance of the enemy's main height. Our loss in 
this action was about sixty killed and wounded ; 
that of the enemy was more. It was now night, 
and Gen. Twiggs had now gained an admirable 
position from whence to commence the general 
attack on the morrow. During the night, a 
strong battery was erected to play upon the 
enemy's line and facilitate our atfack upon the 
main or Telegraph height. 
11 



EEMlNISUEXCEa OF A 



CHAPTER XXV. 



Cerro Gordo and its adjacent country — Orders for battle and 
disposition of the forces — General Pillow's operations against 
the enemy's front — Charge of the Second Tennessee regi- 
ment — Gen. Twiggs turns the enemy's left, and drives them 
from their forts — Gen. Shields attacks Santa Anna's head- 
quarters — Total route and capture of the enemy. 

The country about Cerro Gordo is of the wild- 
est and most rugged character, the lofty and pre- 
cipitous hills intersected by deep ravines and 
dark cavernous barrancas ; the stupendous cliffs 
and high impending precipices, with the bright 
mountain streams of crystal transparency leap- 
ing over a hundred cascades and waterfalls, give 
to this region an air beautifully wild and pictur- 
esque, and at the same time render it admirably 
susceptible of fortification. 

The National Road as it approaches Cerro 
Gordo from Vera Cruz descends by an abrupt 
declivity into a deep valley or ravine, at the 
bottom of which two streams enter from differ- 
ent gorges, and as they approach each other 
form a small level plat of ground w^hich gives 
the place the name of Plan del Rio. The largest 
of these streams flows between high and precip- 
itous bluffs, the farther of which was crowned by 
the batteries on the enemy's right. The road 
crosses these streams a short distance above 
their confluence, and ascending the farther side 
of the ravine by an oblique slope leaves the 
iierra caliente and enters the verge of the tierra 
templada. Having reached the summit of the 
rise, some two miles below the enemy's right it 
winds through the chaparrel until some rugged 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 243 

hills force it into a narrow gorge, overhung on 
the left by the left work of the enemy's front 
line of fortifications, and raked from the front by 
a strong battery near the base of the main height, 
where the road again comes upon the ravine or 
barranca of the river ; the road now leaves the 
Cerro Gordo height to the right, and emerging 
from the gorge comes upon the enemy'% head- 
quarters, where another strong battery was 
placed. Here was the limit of the enemy's 
operation, covering in all an area some five miles 
in length, and forming a complete concatenation 
of forts, so arranged as to enfilade every ap- 
proach with a most devastating fire. 

It is difficult to conceive a position which na- 
ture has more strongly fortified than Cerro Gordo, 
and which with slight assi'^tance from art could 
be so easily rendered tenable by a few thousand 
troops against the assaults of a vastly superior 
force. The enemy, conscious of the natural 
strength of their position, had never dreamed of 
the possibiUty of our turning it ; and having 
learned from some German deserters, on the 17th, 
that we intended to make our main attack upon 
their front works, they threw strong reinforce- 
ments into these works, and looked upon the 
movement of General Twiggs as a mere di- 
version. 

General Scott issued his orders for attack to 
the separate commanders on the 17th, and early 
onthelSth, we moved forward to the general 
attack. The division of Gen. Worth, accompa- 
nied by Gen. Patterson (who had been for sev- 
eral days confined to bed,) was to follow the 
movement against the enemy's left, and to be 
held as a reserve with the cavalry. General 
Twiggs from his position was to direct hia forces 



'^4-1 iu:>iiNJrii'i:N*oi:s or A 

against the main height of the enemy, and carry 
it by storm. Gen. Pillow, with the tivo Tennes:- 
see and the two Pennsylvania regiments, was to 
advance upon the enemy's front line of v^^orks 
and to obtain a position from whence he could 
assault the works as soon as the firing com- 
menced upon the left of the enemy's line. In 
order to second this move by Gen. Pillow an 
eight inch siege howitzer had been lifted along 
the opposite side of the ravine, and planted on a 
height opposite the works of the enemy, so as to 
fire across the ravine upon the enemy's line. 

Gen. Worth, following the route opened by 
Gen. Twiggs, easily obtained his position. Gen. 
Pillow, with his brigade, numbering two thou- 
sand men, having followed the National road 
some two miles beyond our encampment, struck 
into a narrow path to the left, at right angles to 
the road, a mile and a half in front of the en- 
emy's works. These works of the enemy, it had 
been impossible to thoroughly reconnoitre, owing 
to the vigilance of the Mexican outposts ; but 
from the imperfect observations that had been 
made, a very erroneous estimate had been placed 
upon the strength of the fortifications. The 
enemy were here posted along the summit of a 
broad ridge which was intersected by two parallel 
ravines which formed the hill into three smaller 
heights. Upon each of these smaller heights 
was a strong fort — each supporting and supported 
by the others; while another, in rear of the 
centre work, commanded all the others. 

These works were manned by four thousand 
choice troops under Gens. La Vega and Jerrero, 
and mounted nineteen pieces of artillery, all 
within point-blank range of an assaulting force. 
The ground in front of these works descended 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 245 

by a very slight yet rough declivity for more than 
two hundred yards, and then fell off abruptly in- 
to a wooded hollow ; all the intermediate space 
from the edge of this hollow to the forts had 
been cleared up and the brush had been scatter- 
ed over the ground so as to impede a charge and 
mask the batteries ; and it was on this latter ac- 
count that we had been unable to discover the 
real strength of the batteries. 

]n Gen. Pillow's order of attack, the 2nd Ten- 
nessee regiment, supported by the 1st Pennsyl- 
vania regiment, was to move in advance and 
charge the centre battery of the enem}', while the 
2nd Pennsylvania regiment, supported by the 
1st Tennessee, was to follow and assault the 
enemy's extreme right, or the battery which 
overhung the river. 

Having made the preliminary formations for 
attack, General Pillow proceeded cautiously 
through the dense chaparral by a pathway so 
narrow that we were forced to advance by a 
flank movement, and frequently by single file. 
Owing to this and the other difliculties of the 
ground, we had proceeded but little way into 
the chaparral before the signal gun was fired 
and the action commenced on our right. Moving 
forward with as much rapidity as the nature of 
the ground would admit, Gen. Pillow succeeded 
in gaining the hollow in front of the enemy's 
line, and rapidly formed Col. Haskell's regiment, 
and having ordered Col. Wynkoop to support it 
with his regiment, gave the order to charge, 
while he himself dashed to the left to place Col. 
Roberts' regiment in position, and lead it to the 
charge. 

The enemy had now discovered us and opened 
a tremendous fire upon oar columns, which swept 



246 REMINISCENCES OP A 

through the chaparral like a terrific hail storm. 
The column of Haskell, now in motion, emerged 
from the chaparral, and with a shout of fierce 
defiance dashed gallantly forward to the charge ; 
instantly the converging fires of the enemy 
poured upon them with resistless fury ; the bat- 
teries from right to left enfiladed their ranks 
with devastating showers of balls, while from 
the fort in front a perfect cataract of canister, 
grape and bullets poured down the front with 
with annihilating force. It was in vain the 
gallant regiment bore up against the iron storm 
and dashed up to the very walls of the fort, over 
the impeding rocks and brush, unsupported by 
the Pennsylvania regiment, which had been 
thrown into confusion, their numerical force, 
already stripped of every field officer save the 
Colonel, and nearly one-third of the men. could 
poorly countervail the hurricane of balls and 
the bristling bayonets of two thousand men. 
Seeing the utter hopelessness of the task, the 
few officers left reluctantly ordered the men to 
fall back and wait for support. The gallant 
Pillow had been shot down by a disabling wound 
at almost the first discharge, while he was about 
to form Col. Roberts' column for the charge ; but, 
though wounded, he ordered, through his aid. 
Col. Roberts to form and charge ; but from some 
misconstruction of the order, Col. Roberts' regi- 
ment was unfortunately thrown into confusion. 
The 1st Tennessee, though placed in the rear 
of all, as soon as the firing commenced pressed 
hurriedly forward, but owing to the confusion of 
the other regiments, could not reach the field 
until Haskell's men, bleeding and broken, were 
falling back into the ravine. Stung with dis- 
appointment and mortification at the unpropi- 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 247 

tious turn of affairs, our old regiment, seeing 
the disorder that prevailed, moved forward with 
unbj'oken line and assumed the front, while the 
trees above were yet trembling and crashing 
with the pattering balls ; cheering up the other 
troops, and receiving in turn the compliments of 
our wounded General as they passed, our men 
called loudly to their officers to lead them to the 
charge. Col. Campbell, finding Gen. Pillow 
disabled, assumed the command of the brigade, 
while the noble Anderson, whose chivalric soul 
would not allow him to hear brave men beg in 
vain for battle, led on, and bade us follow; 
catching the welcome sound, the men dashed 
forward after their brave leader with a desper- 
ate zeal. The gallant Campbell, proud of the 
conduct of his regiment, yet loth to see them 
march alone into the jaws of death, strove vigor- 
ously, but vainly, to form the disordered troops 
and bring them up to our support. It was a 
noble sight thus to see two hundred and seventy 
men rushing consciously upon their fate, ready 
to assail, uncoverd and alone, the protected 
thousands of the enemy. I never shall forget 
the stern faces of these men; every muscle was 
rigid, every feature was firm set as marble, and 
every eye glared with fierce desperation. 

Knowing that our regiment, unsupported, 
would only be sacrificed, Gen. Pillow assumed 
command, and ordered us to fall back and await 
the formation of the other regiments. Another 
moment and it would have been too late — a few 
steps more would have brought the "Bloody 
First" upon the open area and under the con- 
centrated fire of all the forts. Obeying the 
order our regiment fell back, and Gen. Pillow 
soon formed his brigade again, and was moving 



24S REMINISCENCES OF A 

into position to renew the assault, when th« 
enemy run up the white flag and surrendered, 
as the division of Gen. Twiggs had fairly turned 
the enemy's left, carried their works, and com- 
pletely routed all their forces in that direction, 
and had cut off all retreat to those in front. 

At the signal for battle, the battery erected by 
Gen. Twiggs, consisting of two twent3'-four 
pound howitzers and a long twenty-four pound- 
er, opened with fine effect upon the main height 
of the enemy, while the brigade of light troops, 
under the Chevalier Bayard of the army, the 
chivalric Colonel Harney, dashed rapidly for- 
ward and commenced the assent of the height 
amid a hurricane of bullets and grape shot, 
which but for the steepness of the height would 
have swept away the gallant troops ere they 
could have made the ascent ; but on they push- 
ed with their leader at their head, climbing the 
steep hill side, and cheering up his men. At the 
same time, the light brigade of the dauntless 
Riley, moving to the right along the base of the 
hill, commenced their ascent at nearly right 
angles to Col. Harney's course. A scene of ani- 
mating emulation occurred, each column strove 
for the honor of first carrying the works; up- 
wards they rushed, heedless alike of balls and 
fatigue. The light troops of the enerny formed 
along the brow of the hill to oppose our troops. 
Their fire was returned with a fearful effect by 
our rifles. The two lines were enveloped in a 
sheet of smoke and flame, and the thunders of 
battle swelled up in terrific waves of sound ; but 
firmly and steadily our gallant troops advanced, 
until, driving the enemy within their walls, they 
charged bravely up, and carrying the work, 
turned the five pieces of arliilery upon the twenty- 



tiAMPAlGN iK MEXICO; 2i^ 

five hundred retreating Mexicans. In the mean- 
while, the gallant Shields, leading his brigade 
around the base of the height, bravely bore 
down upon the enemy's headquarters and carrying 
the battery, fell severely traversed with a grape 
shot, while his troops, the two Illinois regiments 
and the New York battalion, put Canalizo's five 
thousand lancers to flight, and forced the doughty 
*' Benemerito de la Patria," Santa Anna himself, 
to leave his coach and make his escape upon the 
back of a draught mule. 

The enemy were now in complete route, and 
those in the front works, finding themselves sur- 
rounded on all sides, threw down their arms and 
surrendered as prisoners. The gallant division 
of Gen. Worth now came forward and joined 
with Gen. Shields' troops in the pursuit, and for 
twelve itiiles the cavalry strewed the road side 
with slain fugitives. Gen. Patterson, who lead 
the pursuit, halted the troops at Encerro, after 
having dispersed every considerable body of the 
enemy that could be found. 

Thus resulted to our arms one of the most 
complete victories ever obtained over an enemy 
so w^ell prepared for opposition. Of Santa An- 
na's twelve thousand troops, between four and 
five thousand fell into our hands ; nearly four 
hundred were killed, and a large number wound- 
ed, while the remainder were dispersed in every 
direction. Forty tv/o pieces of artillery, with a 
vast amount of ammunition, small arms, and pro- 
vision stores, fell into our hands. The whole 
plan of the battle was admirably arranged, and 
succeeded in every particular, save the attack of 
Gen. Pillow, and it was unfortunate that with the 
weakest force the gallant General should have 
been sent against by far the strongest and best 



S5d liElVflNisSCENCES OF A 

manned fortifications of the enemy. But to nd 
one can blame be attached for the failure, as it 
originated in an unavoidable miscalculation of 
the enemy's strength in that quarter. But this 
attack had the usual effect to render the resist- 
ance of the enemy in the rear less obstinate 
than it would have been, as both uttacks were 
nearly simultaneous; 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

The advance of Gen. Worth and the capture of L^ Hoya aiid 
Perote — Advance of the other troops on Jalapa — Leave Plaii 
del Rio — The Battle Field — The National Road — Encerro and 
its scenery— Entrance into Jalapa— The maidens of Jalapa— 
Encamp beyond the city. 

On the morning of the 15th, Gen Worth moved 
up from Encerro, and entered Jalapa without op= 
position. The enemy had fortified at La Hoya, 
a dark, defensible barrancc, twelve miles beyond 
Jalapa,. but as Gen. Worth advanc^ they re- 
tired from their works and fell back upon Perote^ 
leaving fifteen pieces of artillery to be captured 
by the American commander. 

Without stopping at La Hoya longer than was 
necessary to secure the captured articles, Gen. 
Worth pushed rapidly forward, and by the 21st 
compelled the enemy to evacuate Perote, and 
Col. Velasquez, on the part of the Mexican 
Government, formally surrendered, with all its 
arms and appurtenances, the strong castle of 
Perote, scarce second to San Juan de Ulloa, and 
so famous in the history of Mexican perfidy and 
oddaassion. 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 251 

The division of Gen. Twiggs, moving on as 
far as Jalapa, remained encamped until active 
service should call them forward. 

On the 20th, Gen. Pillow's brigade, with the 
exception of Col. Haskell's regiment, which was 
left to destroy the captured arms and ammuni- 
tion, was put in motion. Leaving Plan del Rio, 
we ascended the slope, and after winding for 
five miles through the defiles and gorges through 
which the road here passes, w-e came u|pon the 
brink of a deep chasm, at the bottom of which, 
nine hundred feet below, flowed the stream upon 
which we had previously encamped. Diverging 
from the chasm, we came upon the main height 
of the enemy. Here had been the brunt of the 
battle, and the lifeless victims strewed on every 
side, were evidences of the fury with which the 
contest had been waged. The whole surface of 
the kill was dotted with the blackened and bloody 
'Corpse s of three hundred dead. On the side 
where our troops had ascended, the sJaughter 
had been terrible, and whole scores lay piled in 
lieaps with ibe black and clotted gore exuding 
from their death-wound. The stench from the 
mouldering bodies had be^un already to taint 
the ^ir, and we were happy when the last of our 
'Column filed past the height and the ghastly 
i;pectacle of the multitudinous slaughtei' was 
shut out from our view. A few rods brougfit^s 
upon Santa Anna's head quarters, the scene of 
Canalizo's rout, and here too the slaughter had 
been terrible, and horsemen and horses were 
were stretched in a common death. Beyond this 
iscene were the cane ja<;ales or huts which con- 
tained the wounded. Here, with a humanity 
second only to that of Victor at Talavera, our 
surgeons had bestowed indiscriminate attention 



25^ RE^IfNISCENCES Ot A 

upon friend and foe ; side by side they shared 
the same quarters and partook of their fare frorrj 
the same kindly hand. This was the most affect- 
ing scene incident to the battle. The dead were 
beyond the pale of bodily suffering, but the 
wounded, with their lopped off limbs, their 
pierced and broken bodies, racked with a thou- 
sand excruciating pains, \vere enduring a hun- 
dred deaths. The poor friendless Mexican 
mortals were forced, though in their own country^ 
to depend on the charities of a humane enemy 
to dress their wounds and sustain their misera= 
ble lives. As w^e passed the scene, a small body 
of Mexican soldiers, without pomp or parade, 
crossed our lines, bearing off for interment the 
dead body of Gen. Vasquez from the field where 
he had fallen. These concurring scenes, taught 
us a reflective lesson that we can never forget, 

A few of us had seen the day before, a sight 
that touched every heart and made the warm 
tear-drop start to the eye of the stern soldier. 

We were upon the battle-field, and a woman 
came groping among fhe heaps of dead, turning 
over the blackened bodies and anxiously scrutin- 
izing the features of each half putrid corpse. 
She was a widowed Indian mother, and the 
routed fugitives flying from the battle field had 
borne her the sad news that her son, her only 
child had fallen in the conflict with the Yankees^ 
and she had now come from her home twenty 
miles away to reclaim his dead body for its 
burial. Little divining the object of her search, 
"we watched her long with repulsive feelings in 
her strange task, until at length, discovering the 
object for which she sought, she eagerly lifted a 
manly corpse from its bloody bed, and lashing 
the body upright upon a chair, she strapped thr 



lifeless burden to her back, and with tottering 
step set out to bear the bones of her last child 
to her distant home, that she might give it burial 
in the grave of her fathers. When she passed 
with her strange but precious burden, she cast 
upon us a look so full of pleading and reproach- 
ful sorrow that we were forced to ask her story 5 
and then, in wild Indian accent, she poured forth 
her tale of sorrow, and though we could but half 
comprehend her half Indian and half Spanish 
tongue, yet the simple sympathies of the human 
heart interpreted the wild gestures of her strug- 
gling grief, and taught us the vehement pathos 
of her bereavement until our hearts o'erflowed 
wuth pity at her touching grief, and we turned 
away from this example of maternal affection 
with a keener admiration for those tender traits 
that gentle woman, whether Indian, African, or 
European, never fails to possess and exhibit. 

Alter we pass Cerro Gordo, and debouche from 
its hills, the National road changes its appear- 
ance. Heretofore the road had been made of 
firm cement and with strong walls flanking its 
whole extent ; but here the cement route ceases, 
and the gradual and continuous ascent which 
now commences is paved wdth hewn stone ; and 
I must say that altogether it is the finest road 
that I have ever seen, and its bridges for stability 
and beauty are said to be unequalled by any in 
the world. As we ascended the long slope 
towards Jalap a, we encountered the dead bodies 
of men and horses at almost every step, and the 
occasional ranehos formed of large upright canes, 
with others matted in like wicker-work, were 
filled with wounded men. A few hours climbing 
brought us to the hacienda of Encerro, the favor- 
ite residence of Santa Anna, The premises 



S54 REMINISCENCES Of A 

were under the safeguard of the army, and every 
thing was as yet undisturbed. The dinner of 
the generahssimo was still unserved in the cul- 
inary vessels just as the General had left it when 
he was forced to fly. 

Encerro, as its name indicates, is in the high 
landj and is in a most romantic situation: sit- 
uated on a crowning point, it commands an ex- 
tensive and magnificent prospect in every direc- 
tion except towards Jalapa, where an interven- 
ing hill shuts out the view. Here the ex-Presi- 
dent retires when the deadly vomito drives him 
from his estate of Mango de Clavo in the tierra 
caliente, and as altitude in this favored country 
compensates for latitude, he breathes the fresh 
mountain air of the tierra templada, while his 
broad pleasure grounds, dotted with herds of 
cattle, spread out in gentle undulations beneath 
his eye, with the snow capped peak of Orizaba 
decking his distant horizon, and the range of the 
porphyritic Cordilleras hedging in the distance 
the green and fertile valleys of this heaven- 
favored clime. The dwelling iat Encerro is an 
ordinary building, two stories in height, and 
containing eight or ten apartments, and fronted 
hy a fine portico, shut in by glass windows. The 
whole interior is elegantly fi.tted up with rich 
curtains, splendid furniture, and paintings and 
cartoons from the first masters. In the rear of 
the dwelling are the servants' dormitories, in a 
large building, the ground floor of which is occu- 
pied as a stable. There is an unfinished chapel 
near the dwelling, of capacious dimensions. 
Though this site is upon the summit of a high 
eminence, a large and deep lagoon, fed by hidden 
springs and formed by throwing a dam across a 
narrow ravine, and the water, pouring in a large 



cAMi^AtGN m MEtib6. 255 

sheet over an artificial cascade and meandering 
through the woody islands that skirt its banks, is 
Used to irrigate the fertile meadows of the haci- 
enda. The mountain air of Encerro was to us 
cold and chilly, and the copious dew completely 
saturated our blankets during the night; but 
sunrise brought a pleasant morning, and we 
journej'^ed on towards the far famed city of Jal- 
feipa. It was called two leagues to the city, but 
we climbed on for eight or nine miles, when sl& 
we turned a high point in the rear, we were sud- 
denly in the suburbs of the city, and the white 
walls of the buildings peeping through the rich 
foliage that skirted the suburbs, told us that a 
beautiful city lay beneath us. We entered the 
city with lines dressed and fixed bayonets, while 
Jalapa, famous for the beauty of its maidens, 
poured forth a full tide of donnas. From every 
grated window were peering the dark-eyed don- 
zellas, with their fair faces exhibiting every phaze 
of which the human physiognomy is capable, 
when agitated by the various emotions. Some 
were smiling, others lauging downright at our 
ragamuffin and tatterdemalion appearance, and 
a few red heads amongst us, provoking succes- 
sive peals of laughter, met with no m.ercy at 
their hands ; some stood pensively gazing upon 
us as we passed ; others, with wounded pride, 
hurled their indignant glances upon us, and 
revealed in the flushed cheek, the flashing eye^ 
and the supercilious curl of the lip, strong traces 
of the haughty implacability of the Castilian 
character ; while we saw not a few tear drops 
twinkle and tremble within the jetty lashes of 
mmiy a dark eye. But of all, one deserves par- 
ticular mention. Seated in a window on a low 



256 R£Mimst)£^*CES O? A 

chair, she held a richly embossed book upon hef 
lap, ostensibly for the purpose of reading, but 
really to shield her maiden modesty, while she 
looked at the sturdy forms and sun -browned 
faces of the Americans. She w^as a perfect 
picture of beauty, There she sat, neatly and 
richly clad, with her light and gracile forrri 
bending in the symmetrical curves of graceful 
beauty ; her dark, luxuriant hair passing along 
her forehead and falling in a shower of raven 
tresses upon a fair neck, slightly brunetted with 
the Castilian tinge. Her eyebrows, with pure 
Grecian curve, darkly penciled her fine forehead. 
From beneath the rich folds of her dress, half 
hid, yet designedly half visible, peeped out a 
witching little foot, cased in a satin slipper, and 
so exquisitely small and neatly turned that 
Venus might have envied it. Her head was 
slightly bent, as though she read ; but her tiny 
little fingers, covered with rings, played co- 
quettishl}^ with the leaves, and the furtive glances 
that flashed from the lustrous depths of her dark, 
voluptuous eye, told too plainly that "Los Amer-= 
icanos" w^ere of stronger interest than the book: 
But sufiice it to say that the bright beauty of 
that black eyed brunette made the eye of every 
beholder glow with admiration, and many an 
older heart than mine leap and tremble with 
irrepressible emotion. 

Passing through the main streets of the lovely 
city, we continued our march and encamped 
several "*miles beyond the suburbs, on the Na- 
tional road, and near the large cotton factory of 
Don Luis Garcia. Our camp lay in a rich and 
fertile valley, beside a dark and shady barrancfS,, 
into which a stream precipitated itself down a 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 257 

falls seventy feet in height. The mountain 
stream from which we drank, flowing from the 
snow-capped Cofre of Perote, was of icy cold- 
ness, and the rich balmy air of the perpetual 
spring revived us from our fatigues, and the 
toils we had passed. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

Jalapa — Its position — Its climate, etc. — The Indians — Tiieir 
condition. 

There are some spots upon the earth which 
combine so many elements of natural beauty, 
that they stand first upon the list of every trav- 
eler who sees them, and ever after fill his mem- 
ory with pleasing pictures of Elysian loveliness. 
Such a spot is Jalapa. Possessing every requi- 
site for beauty, it has in addition the most genial 
and salubrious climate, with the richest soil and 
a peculiar locality, where every production of 
the globe can be procured in the utmost abund- 
ance. It is situated upon the first bench of the 
mountains, four thousand two hundred and sixty 
feet above the level of the sea, and at a distance 
of fifty miles from the gulf, though seventy by 
the road. The scenery which environs the city 
combines every feature that could charm the 
eye, and is lovely beyond description. On every 
side, save that which looks towards the sea, the 
eye ranges over a landscape of fertile valleys, 
cultivated meadows, and the shaggy sides of 
waving hillocks which rise up, step by step, until 
they are lost in the gigantic grandeur of the 



258 REMINISCENCES OF A 

Cordilleras, which sweep round the city at tGe 
distance of twelve or fiiteen miles. Towards 
the West, at the distance of twenty-five miles, 
though owing to an optical delusion, apparently 
scarce a stone's cast off, looms up the colossal 
cone of Pajautocate or Orizaba, with its gaping 
crater seventeen thousand five hundred feet in 
height. For three centuries the snowy mantle 
of its summit has been unbroken by an eruption 
of lava. The last eruption occurred in 1545, and 
lasted for twenty years. To the north-west the 
Cofre of Perote rises from its base of porous 
amygdaloid and lifts up its huge head of shattered 
porphyry to the height of thirteen hundred feet. 
Upon the topmost pinnacle of its srmimit rests a 
vast rock of many thousand tons weight, which, 
from its resemblance to a trunk or coffer, gives 
the name of Cofre to this mountain, which is so 
near Jalapa that the snow from its summit is 
brought down to the city for various refrigerating 
purposes. 

Towards the gulf, the country slopes by a 
gradual and easy declivity for twenty miles, 
where it enters the tierra caliente, or hot region, 
w^hich is a strip of low land twenty to fifty miles 
in width, skirting the shores of the gulf and 
reeking with hot meganos, or sand hills, and 
teeming with tropical fruits and forests. Jalapa, 
situated just upon the upper verge of this slope 
is above the pestilential influence of the vomito 
and the epidemic plagues of the low lands ; and 
the warm sea-breze sweeping up the long ascent 
to the tierra templada tempers the cool air of the 
snowy mountains, and forms for the inhabitants 
of this favored region the softest and most 
equable climate to be found upon the globe. 
The thermometer seldom varies here more than 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 259 

twelve degrees, and consequently the inhabitants 
are almost totally exempt from those pulmonary, 
bronchial, and biliary diseases which elsewhere 
constitute the principal aggregate of human ilia. 

No one who has never felt and breathed the 
exhilerating atmosphere about Jalapa, can have 
any appreciation of its purity and its invigorating 
influence on the spirits and the constitution. 
But it requires one to experience the contrasts 
which are to be met with in its proximity, to fully 
enjoy the fine effects of the climate ; for whether 
ascending from the close and sultry air of the 
tierra caliente, or descending from the bleak and 
bracing winds of the tierra frica, or cold lands, 
this delicious medium is alike acceptable. The 
traveler, as he comes up from the feverish oven- 
like breath of the meganos, finds the fresh and 
healthful air of this region exceedingly grateful 
to his relaxed and debilitated energies, and as he 
descends from the chilling gales that sweep over 
the barren wastes of pedregal beyond La Hoy a, 
the mild temperature of Jalapa aftbrds a gentle 
relaxation to the braced system, and is doubly 
welcome. 

The atmosphere possesses here a transparency 
no where else to be met with, and which lends a 
peculiar beauty to the landscape ; as the most 
distant objects are as plainly visible as if viewed 
through a telescope ; and the distant mountains, 
unshaded by misty blue, stand out in bold relief 
with their green sides and shattered cliffs. When 
the sky ^is clear after a norther on the Gulf, the 
white caps of the billows may be seen as they 
break on the beach fifty miles away. 

It is not a little singular that within the short 
ascent of fifty miles may be found every pe- 
culiarity of soil, temperature, and product that 



260 KEMiNISCEiNCES OF A 

belongs to all the different latitudes of the earth. 
Jalapa, occupying a mean position with regard to 
this altitudinal apportionment of clime, enjoys 
all the products found in various portions of the 
globe ; and its market displays a greater variety 
of fruits, vegetables and other esculent articles, 
than can probably be found in any other market 
in the world. 

The character and Ptppearance of the people 
of this region are almost as varied as the pro- 
ducts. Here may be seen the swarthy Zambo, 
with his fierce robber-looking aspect, who has in 
a few hours come up from the torrid district of 
Vera Cruz, driving his asses loaded with the 
peculiar products of his own region. By -his 
side, is the well-mounted Vachero, or herdsman, 
from the mountains, and the dark Ranchero from 
the valleys, whose sinister visage and mischief- 
lurking eye proclaim him as ready for service in 
the barranca as the field, as willing to wield the 
carbine and stilletto as the hoe or plow. 

But there are no objects more calculated to 
arrest the attention and awaken the sympathies 
of the observer than the miserable Indians. The 
abject servitude to which they have been so long 
reduced has quite broken the proud spirit which 
this race is represented to have possessed at the 
Cortesian conquest. They are the remnant of 
one of those tribes w^hich had resisted the tide of 
conquest with which the Montezumas had over- 
whelmed this ill-fated country. But since the 
conquest the gloom which has reigned over their 
political history seems to have impressed itself 
upon the minds of this people, until from an 
habitual tendency to despondence, it has fixed 
itself as a constitutional and national character- 
istic ; for even in his features there is a dark, 



(•AMPAIGN* l.V Mt:\lOO. 261 

settled and inyfcsterious gloom, which i;5 t^eldoin 
lit up by a smile. They shrink from the obser- 
vation of the passer, and their dark, unreadable 
eyes cower beneath the glance of the stranger. 
Their only food is a little maize, pulse, and 
pepper ; and their only beverage the pulque, or 
juice of the aloe. From their infancy both 
fciexes are trained to carry the heaviest burdens, 
which are supported on the back by a band 
passing along the forehead; and they may be 
seen approaching the market, clad in their 
coarse, blue cassock of cotton, and pacing be- 
neath their heavy loads as patiently as the ox. 
Their feet are deformed from carrying these 
heavy burdens ; the toes are wide apart and 
curved downward as if for climbing steep as- 
cents. This class of people constitutes the 
principal population of Mexico, and though 
bowed down b}' the odious system of peonage 
are yet the most industrious portion of the peo- 
ple of Mexico. 

The city of Jalapa is built upon the ancient 
site of that name. It contains many old and 
antique buildings ; among others an old church 
built by Cortes, which, owing to the substantial 
nature of the materials, is almost unimpaired by 
the tooth of time, and bids fair yet to outlive 
centuries. Owing to the broken and uneven 
surface of the site there is very little order or 
regularity in the arrangement of the streets. 
They are narrow, tortuous, and angular, and but 
few are sufficiently wide for wagons to pass ; 
from these larger streets the smaller ones di- 
verge at irregular nngles and w4th a liexuous 
propensity that displays a most sovereign con- 
tempt to every thing like right lines. Jalapa 
differs from other INIexiean cities in this, that all 



263 REMINISCENCES OF A 

the houses have sloping, tiled roofs, with long 
projecting eaves that extend quite over the side 
walks, and thereby protect the large bar-windows 
which look out upon the street. Though the 
streets are narrow and often very precipitous, 
yet they lend an additional charm to the city 
and impress the stranger with strong feelings of 
romance ; for, as one plunges into the dark 
streets, threads their labyrinthine mazes, breathes 
the rich aroma of the flowers and fruitage in- 
terspersed throughout the city, peeps into the 
voluptuous camaras of the rich, and catches the 
tender glance of some Leah-eyed donzella peer- 
ing from her balcony, he cannot but ask him- 
self if it is not half a dream. 

The city is kept unusually clean, but this is 
not effected without the aid of the police aux- 
iliaries which are found in every Mexican city, 
the dogs and zopilotes ; but they are here upon 
such terms of intimacy that they perform the 
joint duties of scavenger and sentry without 
any inharmonious difterence ; for the dogs watch 
until night-fall calls the vultures to their airy 
perch upon the roofs where they stand during 
the night, silent as pickets on their posts. 

Jalapa is famous for the excellence of its 
hanos publicos, or public baths, and I observed 
there a novel establishment, in municipal econ- 
omy. It was a large public wash-house, or tecka- 
cupia, where the poor wash their clothes. It 
consists of two rows of stalls containing prop- 
erly constructed basins, into which water may 
be let at pleasure. The whole establishment is 
under the direction of the city authorities and 
is doubtless a great convenience to the poorer 
classes. 



CJAMPAIGN IN MEXICO* 203 



CHAPTER XXVril. 

The Mexicans — Desultory remarks upon the Mexicans, their 
habits, &c. 

In Mexico, whatever may be the legal enact- 
ments to the contrary, there exists about as 
great a distinction among the different classes 
of population as is observed among the Hindoo 
castes. Nature has made a distinction in man- 
kind, and it is idle for legislation to attempt to 
destroy this difference. It may be politically 
true that "all men are born free and equal," yet 
they can never be in reality so as long as nature 
endows one race of the human species with 
intellect superior to others. In so mixed a so- 
ciety as Mexico contains, these distinctions are 
most manifest; the Castilian, or pure Spaniard, 
here assumes and obtains a complete superiority 
over all the other classes. It is a mark of honor 
to carry none other than white blood within the 
veins. 

The Creole, or Mexican born Spaniard, stands 
upon the same footing as to caste, with the na- 
tive Castihan. The Creole and Castilian here 
wear all the characteristics of their transatlantic 
brethren. They are proud, arrogant, and big- 
oted; and they sustain themselves in this by 
combining not only aristocracy of blood, but of 
wealth. They usually own the large estates, 
and live in a style of the greatest splendor and 
magnificence. 

The Indian race which composes four-sixths 
of the population of Mexico are a most abject 
race of beings, and the greater portion of them 



'^Gi REMINISCENCES OF A 

are oppressed by a system of servitude more 
odious and degrading by far than the negro 
slavery of the United States. The proprietors 
ot the landed estates employ them to work, and 
cultivate their farms or haciendas at certain 
wages, which are to be paid in kind and clothing, 
and such articles as are requisite for the main- 
tenance of life. An account is kept of these 
things, and as the peon is perfectly ignorant, the 
proprietors always manages to keep the poor 
wretches in their debt, and the law provides that 
no peon, or his family, shall leave an estate until 
all the debts due to the proprietor shall be paid. 
By these means the owners of estates, when they 
have once a peon in their employ, manage to 
keep him there until he grows too old and decrepit 
to work, or until some accident shall have ren- 
dered hiin useless, he is then cast off upon the 
world to beg or starve. 

The mixed races are divided into Mestizoes, 
or the Spanish crossed upon the Indian blood ; 
the Mulatto, the cross of the Spanish and Negro 
races, and the Zambo, or offspring of Indian and 
Negro parents. And it is usual for them to take 
precedence in society according to their color. 

There are very few negroes in the interior of 
Mexico, the}^ are confined to the sea coast about 
Vera Cruz and Tampico, and comprise an ex- 
ceedingly small portion of Mexican population. 
And here, as elsewhere, the unfortunate sons of 
Canaan are the most degraded class, and sunk 
lowest in the scale of humanity. 

The condition of the Indian race throughout 
Mexico is most pitiable ; they are the hewers of 
wood and the drawers of water. One cannot 
look upon this race of people without feelings of 
commiseration. Like their red brethren of the 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO, 265 

North they are melting away before the Cau- 
casian race. Three centuries ago they peopled 
a vast continent with swarming tribes, but they 
have strangely passed away ; though here the 
most prolific of all the human species, yet their 
thousands cannot now equal their former millions. 
Who cannot discern in the condition of this 
people the mysterious hand of God ? Who can- 
not read in their history the fulfilment of holy 
writ? "Blessed be Japhet, for he shall dwell in 
the tents of vShem." 

There is a remarkable difference between the 
population along the upper portion of Mexico, 
and that in the central portion. There is a dif- 
ference in the dialect as well as in the habits and 
customs. The dialect in the central portion is 
more smooth and pure ; while that along the 
Rio Grande is harsh and ineuphonious. Those 
in the upper portion appear to be more cautious 
and treacherous, and every road side is dotted 
with crosses placed upon the graves of unfor- 
tunate wretches where they have been robbed 
and murdered. 

No nation is so universally polite as the Mex- 
icans ; even among the lower classes they prac- 
tice the most courteous comity in their ordinary 
intercourse. If a Mexican asks to light his 
cigaritto by that of another, the one who has 
the lighted cigaritto removes it from his mouth, 
and handing it to the other, stands with his hat 
off until the cigar is returned. They are even 
more polite towards strangers. This affability 
has been by some ascribed, but I know not with 
what justice, to a desire to hide their treachery. 
But there is one custom that, let it emanate from 
what feeling it may, is nevertheless a beautiful 
one. Ask a Mexican, but especially a woman, 
12 



S66 REMINISCENCES OF A 

for a drink of water, and when you return your 
mil gracias, you are answered by a soft "A Dios 
sean dados^^ Let it be a gift to God. 

Notwithstanding the lower and middle class of 
Mexicans are far from being cleanly in their 
habits, yet one is astonished at the cleanliness of 
their dress. You seldom see a female without a 
snowy chemise, and a ranchero may be seen 
emerging from a hut bedaubed with mud, and 
with a floor of earth, where it would be impos- 
sible for one to remain an hour without being 
besoiled with dirt, yet, though his only seat has 
been upon the earth floor, his drawers, which 
are exposed by the outside seams of his pants 
being un sewed, are of stainless whiteness, and 
his cotton jacket, if he has one, is equally neat. 
It must require a great deal of care and washing 
to keep those garments thus w^hite and clean, 
and more especially as the lower classes have no 
soap to wash with ; however, they use as a sub- 
stitute the pith of the maguey, and the roots of 
a species of the palm, which possess considerable 
saponaceous properties. 

The peonts and lower classes of Mexicans live 
in the most abject state of poverty, and one is 
puzzled to conceive how they can sustain life 
with so small an allowance of food as they are 
usually accustomed to eat. A few tortillas or 
thin corn cakes, a small quantity of beans or 
/n}'oZe5, with a few strips of beef, dried and boiled 
with a considerable quantity of pepper, form 
the daily articles of food for a large family. It 
is not exaggeration to say that an American eats 
in one day what would last a Mexican five. Not- 
withstanding they thus stint themselves in their 
diet they enjoy a greater proportion of good 
health than do the Americans generally. Mr, 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 26t 

Thompson states that the bills of mortality in 
Mexico would show but few cases of remarkable 
longevity. This may be true with regard to the 
table lands of Mexico, but I am confident that I 
saw in the parts of Mexico through which our 
army passed, a far greater population of aged 
persons than can be found in any portion of the 
United States. We frequently met with persons 
of a hundred years age ; and in the hospital at 
Vera Cruz there were quite a number of persons 
above a hundred. All the Mexicans have fine 
pearly teeth ; and though instances of blindness 
are not unfrequent, yet these might be almost to- 
tally prevented with proper care, and spectacles 
are never seen in Mexico. 

In no country in the world, where any preten- 
sions to civilization are made, could the me- 
chanic and agricultural arts be at a lower degree 
of imperfection than in Mexico. All their agri- 
cultural implements are of the rudest and most 
primitive construction, and the mode of culture 
is guided by no rules drawn from science. In- 
deed they seem to have declared war against 
advancement and progression in every form. 
With a country possessing the most varied and 
remarkable agricultural resources, they scarcely 
sustain themselves, even at the most stinted 
allowance, upon its soil. No country in the 
world possesses so many advantages to an in- 
dustrious population. It is capable of yielding 
every production to be found upon the globe, 
and that too, with probably a smaller amount of 
labor than in the native region of each separate 
production. The principal staples of the earth 
grow here almost without culture ; corn, wheat, 
barley, oats, sugar, coffee, rice, and tobacco, 
with cotton, hemp, flax, indigo, and the nopal 
which nourishes the cochineal, are produced 



S^S§ REMINISCENCES OF A 

wherever the least industry is bestowed upon 
them. Its fruits are of the finest and most sap- 
orific character. And indeed in no other country 
can human life be so easily sustained. In the 
tierra calienta the fruits succeed each other so 
regularly, that many of the poorer classes sub- 
sist almost entirely upon them. The banana, 
which can not be be raised at a greater altitude 
than four thousand five hundred feet above the 
sea, grows here in native vigor, and is estimated 
to be the most nutritious of all vegetables. 
Humboldt says that the same quantity of ground 
which sowed in wheat would support one man, 
would, if planted with the banana, sustain twen- 
ty-five men . The maguey, which grows in nearly 
every part of Mexico, combines more useful 
properties than any other known vegetable. It 
was to the ancient Mexicans, meat, drink, and 
raiment. From it the Mexicans extract their 
principal beverage, the pulque, which resembles 
cider, and this when fermented and distilled pro- 
duces a most intoxicating liquor, the mescal. 
The pith of the stem is applied to a variety of 
uses ; it affords when boiled an excellent article 
of food ; it is used for soap, and possessing con- 
siderable suberous properties, it is used for any 
purpose that cork can be applied to ; and the 
stem is used in building the jacales of the ranch- 
ero. From the leaves, a strong kind of coarse 
thread is extracted by splitting the fibres, while 
the exterior of the leaf is stripped off' after 
maceration into sheets of white paper resembling 
parchment; and the spines or prickles on the 
leaves are used for pins. 

When nature has thus placed within the reach 
of man the means of so easily satisfying nearly 
every want, and wt^ere a people have no motive 
to acquire property ; where the government is 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 269 

of SO unstable and faulty a character, and offers 
no encouragement to advancement in art, it is 
no wonder that the people are idle, ignorant, and 
servile. 

Mexico abounds in the richest mines of every 
metal, yet but few, even of the most precious 
mines, are worked by Mexican proprietors ; and 
though there are iron beds of the richest quality, 
yet one never sees a horse or mule shod in 
Mexico, and it is only on the wheels of the gov- 
ernment wagons and the carriages of the rich 
that tires can be found ; and it appears as though 
the idea of an iron plough never once occurred 
to them. A steamboat was never seen upon 
their waters until the invasion of the Americans, 
except the the one that Gen. Austin, I think, 
attempted to run on the Rio Grande, in which 
he met with the most decided opposition from 
the Mexican government. Indeed they did not 
know that any of their streams were navigable 
for steamboats until the Americans found it 
necessary to navigate them. 

The country is sadly deficient in the means 
of transportation ; almost all the commerce with 
the interior is carried on by m€an& of pack mules. 
We captured a number of government wagons 
at Cerro Gordo, they w^ere huge and clumsy 
vehicles, nearly or quite three times the size of 
our wagons, and I have not unfrequently seen 
from twenty to twenty-five mules attached to 
one of them. 

The coaches of the rich are quite a curiosity 
to an American ; the distance between the two 
sets of wheels is seldom less than twelve or 
fifteen feet, and there is a great disproportion 
between the size of the fore and hind wheels ; 
the body rests upon large lateral springs, ten or 



270 EEMINISCENOES OF A 

twelve feet long, and the front is usually gar- 
nished with gilded serpents, dragons, or some 
other like device. Their stage coaches, which 
are of American manufacture, are drawn by 
eight mules, two next the wheels, four abreast 
in front of these, and two as leaders. To each 
set of mules there is a driver who is mounted 
upon one of them, whip in hand, and they dash 
down the descents of the road at a most perilous 
and break-neck pace. 

The most comfortable method of traveling is 
in a littera, a kind of covered carriage, borne 
upon the backs of mules, in the bottom of which 
is a matrass, upon which the traveler can^sit 
or recline at pleasure ; and whatever may be the 
asperities of the road, yet in one of these vehicles 
the traveler suffers no jolts and jars. Traveling 
is performed by the middle classes principally 
upon horse-back. Though the Mexican women 
never use bonnets, yet when upon horse-back 
they wear a hat or sombrero similar to that worn 
by the men, and I must confess that I do not 
admire their style of equestrianship. They sel- 
dom ride alone, a husband, father, or brother 
is usually mounted behind them on the same 
horse, and carries the whip, which he administers 
at pleasure. If the lady has a lady's saddle she 
sits exactly upon the opposite side to that the 
American ladies are accustomed to ride upon ; 
but most frequently they use the saddle of the 
men, and like the bolder sex place a foot upon 
each side. 

The rancheros make all their journeys upon 
horse-back. As there are no taverns in Mexico, 
he sets out with provisions enough for the jour- 
ney, with his inseparable companion a blanket ; 
at night he uncoils his cabrista from the horn of 



CAMPAIGN TN MEXICO. 271 

his saddle, and tethers his horse in some grassy- 
spot, while he, after building his fire and dis- 
patching his meal, wraps himself in his blanket 
and sleeps upon the ground. When a ranchero 
has a single beef to carry to the market, instead 
of driving it, he throws his lariet over his horns 
and attaching the other end to his horse's tail, 
mounts his horse and makes the poor beast drag 
the beef after 4iim. 

The poor Indians are trained to burthens from 
their youth, and if they are not rich enough to 
have a donkey, they transport all their articles 
of trade to the market on their backs, and it is 
not unfrequent for them to carry heavy burdens 
forty or fifty miles upon their backs. It is indeed 
astonishing to see what immense weights they 
are capable of carrying ; I have seen porters in 
the cities carrying three and four hundred pounds, 
and it is said they often carry more. 

I think that it is Madame Calderon de la 
Barca that said, music was the seventh sense of 
the JMexicans. I was prepared to receive favor- 
able impressions upon this head, but I must say- 
that I was greatly disappointed. It was seldom, 
that a song ever fell upon our ear, and even the 
few that we could hear would emanate from los 
homhres ciegos, or the blind men, at the street 
corners, and to have discovered the first trace ot 
musical talent in the songs, would have required 
the astute perception of the most analytical con- 
noisseur in the art; they were far niore like the 
screeching of a dry cart wheel than good 
music. 

The people of Mexico are more oppressed with 
the priesthood than any other of the Pope's sub- 
jects. The Catholic religion here displays its 



272 REMINISCENCES OF A 

worst attributes; and Mexico can never be free 
until the church is made distinct from the State, 
and her people have emerged from the debasing 
superstition vrith which the Catholic priesthood 
have shackled their minds. Catholicism has 
has here degenerated into the basest species of 
idolatry. A religion of images, forms and cere- 
monies is not the religion for a people who have, 
for centuries, been imbued wi|h a proclivity 
towards idol worship. Though in every house 
one may see the sj^mbols of Catholicism, yet it is 
plain to see that the ignorant Indian, although 
he may tell his rosary and repeat his Aves and 
Paternosters, is unable to look beyond the mere 
outward forms ; he sees nothing in the picture 
of Christ beyond an image for worship ; and it 
is not a rare occurrence that the Ind ans are yet 
found paying their worship secretly to graven 
images of their ancient idols. 

The priesthood of every country, in order to 
render their followers religious, must not only 
preach, but practice their precepts ; but in Mexi- 
co the lower order of the priesthood are con- 
stantly guilty of the grossest and most heinous 
crimes ; indeed, in proportion to their numbers, 
no one class of people in Mexico are so often 
found committing such fragrant acts against the 
laws of God and man. When their ministerial 
duties are over upon the Sabbath, they are first 
to seek the cock pit and the monte table. 

Probably no other people in the world would 
be so free from drunkenness, with the same 
temptations to the vice, as the Mexicans. It is 
seldom that one meets with an intoxicated Mex- 
ican, and yet there are but few legal enactments 
to prevent it, and that, too, when the very plants 



©AMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 273 

of the earth, as the maguey, exude vast quanti^ 
ties of intoxicating fluids. But if they are, in 
a great measure, free from drunkenness, yet the 
vice of gaming is almost universal. They are 
undoubtedly the coolest race of gamblers to be 
found ; they are naturally of a plegmatic tem- 
perament, and they are capable of dissembling 
the strongest feelings, and under circumstances 
that would excite an American so far that it 
would be impossible for him to conceal his emo- 
tions, a Mexican would appear almost as passive 
as apathy itself. There is an unreadable inex- 
pression in their countenances that defies scru*- 
tiny ; their features are as little the index to 
their thought, as is the surface of the ocean an 
indication of its depth or contents. A Mexican 
will stake his lastquartier of hundreds and lose 
it, without betraying the slightest perceptible 
emotion. 

The extensive prairies and pastures of Mexi* 
CO afford the finest ranges for cattle of every 
description, and sheep, goats and kine are every- 
where to be met with. Swine, too, are easily 
raised, but it is seldem they are found in any 
considerable numbers. I saw", near Victoria, 
quite a number of hogs, whose hoofs were form- 
ed like the hoof of a horse. The cattle of Mex- 
ico are of excellent quality, and the beef is 
universally good, and in many parts of the coun- 
try the atmosphere is so pure that fresh beef 
never taints, if exposed to the sun, and, indeed, 
this is the only method many of the inhabitants 
have of curing their animal food, for salt can 
hardly be procured at all, in many districts, by 
the poor people. It is a striking commentary 
upon the indolence and lack of ingenuity in the 
Mexicans that, notwithstanding their extensive 
12* 



274 feEi>nNISCENCES OF A 

herds of cattle, they have never learned to make 
butter, and hundreds never think of milking their 
cows, but use, when they wish milk, that of the 
she ass or the goat* 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

Gen. Worth moves on towards the City — Marching orders — Set 
out for home. 

After the capture of Perote, Gen. Worth left 
a small force to garrison the castle,- and then 
moved on towards Puebla with the remainer of 
his troops. * 

The army at Jalapa was now burning with 
impatience to march to the city. The volunteers 
had already made up their minds to move on the 
city, and did not expect to be discharged until 
the last day of their service expired. The term 
of service of the 1st Tennessee expired on the 
28th of May, nearly a month before any other 
regiment, and we confidently expected that we 
would be able to reach Mexico before the ex- 
piration of our term. 

On the 4th of May, Gen. Scott issued the order 
for the troops to be in readiness to advance on 
the 6th. The baggage and provision trains 
were put in readiness, and every preparation 
was made for an onward move, but on the night 
of the 5th the order was countermanded, and 
contrary to our expectations, and I must say not 
without serious disappointment to many of us, 
who had indulged the dream of reveling in the 
" halls of the Montezumas," we were ordered to 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. 275 

take Up the line of march, on the 6th, for Vera 
Cruz. 

It is difficult to ascertain what motive could 
have prompted the commander-in-chief sudden- 
ly to alter his intentions, and adopt the short- 
sighted policy of discharging seven regiments of 
well drilled and disciplined troops before their 
term of service had expired, when the service 
imperiously demanded their advance into the 
interior. There is not a single argument urged 
in favor of the discharge of these troops that 
will not apply with equal force in favor of their 
retention. Had Gen- Scott advanced at this 
time, he could have done so at the head of thir- 
teen thousand disciplined troops, nearly all of 
whom had seen service in the Held, and after 
leaving garrisons at all the necessary posts on 
the line, he could have entered the valley of 
Anahuac at the head of nearly or quite ten 
thousand effective men, and that too at a time 
when the enemy had scarce even the name of 
an army to oppose him. It is sophistry to urge, 
in extenuation, that the twelve months troops 
would have incurred great dangers from fevers 
had they been compelled to return to the sea- 
board a month or two later; they had already 
passed through the severest ordeal of acclimation, 
and were thoroughly prepared to stand the cli- 
mate ; and not one would have died on their 
return where twenty died of these unacclimated 
troops who were compelled to fill their places. 
However, we will leave it to impartial history 
to animadvert upon this fatal error, which has 
been justly characterized as the greatest faux 
pas of the war. 

The "generale" sounded early on the 6th, 
and we were soon in line and en route for Vera 



276 KEMINISCENCES OF A 

Cruz. The seven regiments of twelve months 
troops, numbering about four thousand men, 
were placed under the command of Gen. Patter- 
son, who was to conduct them to the United 
States and discharge them from the service of 
the Government. It was a bright morning when 
we set out upon our return to march ; we were 
now homeward bound ; our hearts were light 
and cheerful, and the landscape appeared never 
so lovely before. As we climbed the hill at the 
entrance of the city, we turned to take our last 
near view of Orizaba. The bold masses of 
white, rolling clouds that hung over the inter- 
vening valleys, drifted past in glittering volumes, 
and unveiled the huge volcanic pyramids as its 
coronet of virgin snow caught the first sunbeam. 
It was a magnificent and imposing spectacle, 
and we looked on it until the city walls shut out 
the prospect. Emerging from the city, we con 
tinned our march without any incident worthy 
of relation. 

The guerrillas had now commenced their as- 
sassinations, and we found the way side strewed 
with the stragglers who had been murdered when 
the army came up to Jalapa. As we passed 
the field of Cerro Gordo, the bleaching bones of 
the dead were plainly visible from the road, and 
the flight of vultures around the hill top and the 
barking ot the cojotes or wolves in the dark 
ravines told that they were battening o'er the 
dead bodies of the fallen. 

We found the road full of litteras, a kind of 
palanquin or easy carriage, supported by long- 
shafts on the back of two mules, the one before 
and the other in the rear of the vehicle. The 
road was thronged, too, with arrieros or mule- 
teers, with their long train of pack itiules. As 



CAMPAIGN IN MEXICO. Stf 

nearly all of the transportation in Mexico is 
performed by pack mules, the arrieros form a 
distinct and considerable class of the population. 
And as a class they are said to be far the most 
honest of any other in Mexico ; indeed, their 
occupation renders it necessary that they should 
be ; at any rate, whether it is through honesty 
or covin with bandittos, they usually are faithful 
to their employers. The arriero is an original 
character in Mexico ; he is gay and light hearted, 
and reminds one of the character of the Bedouin 
Arab, and like the Arab he delights to while 
away his evenings by the camp fire in the rehear- 
sal of his strange, wild adventures and rencoun- 
ters with the robbers of La Hoya, Barranca, Sec- 
ca, and Rio Frio. The muleteers of Mexico 
have a remarkable facility in packing burdens of 
every unwieldy size or shape upon their mules. 
They use the same tintinahulum, or little bell, 
that PhoBdus tell us the Romans used in guiding 
and governing their mules. 

After a severe march we reached Bergara, 
three miles below Vera Cruz, on the 10th of 
May. The sun was now directly above head, 
and the weather was extremely warm, and the 
day would have been insupportable to us, had 
had it not been for the fine sea bathing in which 
we took occasion to indulge. 

Those who visited the city during the day 
found that little had been done towards repair- 
ing the damages done to the houses by the bom- 
bardment, and the grass was growing still in the 
barricaded streets. 

A survey of the ground occupiifed by our troops 
during the investment, showed that the northers, 
with their clouds of moving sand, had already 
begun to fill up the trenches, and conceal the 



^278 REMINISCENCES OF A 

breastworks; a few years and all traces of oui? 
ditches and embankments will have vanished. 
The cem.etery, beside which Gen. Worth had 
erected one of his batteries, had been terribly 
torn up by the enemy's bombs, multitudes of 
graves and vaults had been bursted open and 
the ground was strewed with bones and frag- 
ments of broken tombstones. In one corner of 
the grave yard was a Golgotha or chamber fill- 
ed with skulls ; the bombs and balls had nearly 
demolished this chamber, and revealed hundreds 
of ghastly, grinning, scalpless skulls to the eye. 
Everything around showed that not even the 
bones and ashes of the dead was allowed to rest 
in peace. 

As the transports were waiting in readiness to 
receive the troops, it required but little time to 
make the proper assignments of troops to each 
vessel, and on the 11th we passed through the 
city and commenced embarking ; by evening the 
"Bloody First" was on board the fine ship 
Henry Pratt, and ready to put to sea. We lay 
all night at our moorings just outside the castle, 
patiently awaiting the order to put to sea. At 
length morning came, and with it the cheering 
order to weigh the anchor. The decks now 
presented an animating scene, the sailors were 
actively engaged in preparing the ship for set- 
ting sail ; the mate, with the greater portion of 
the hands was heaving at the large anchor ; and 
he lighted the labors by a song, which, with the 
skill of an improvisatori he admirably adapted 
to the ears of Tennesseeans. He sung of the 
glory that Tennessee had gained under Jackson, 
and of the noble manner in which she had sus- 
tained her high reputation in the Mexican war. 
His verses displayed a good deal of ingenuity 



9 CAMPAIGN IK MSXlCd. 27§ 

and poetic talent ; and though rude, yet when 
sung under such circumstances, and with the 
chorus of the hardy tars, made every heart 
swell with pride and pleasure. The only verse 
1 remember of the song is the following i 

"I wish 1 was old Jackson's son, 
I'd whip those Mexicans, every one; 
I'd fight like Jackson used to do. 
And chase them o'er hill and mountain too^ 
So heave her up from dovv^n below, 
A few more heaves and that will do— - 
A few more heaves and then we'll go, 
And bid good-bye to Mexico." 

At length the anchor was weighed, the sails 
were set, and clearing our moorings we bore 
out from beneath the walls of San Juan de Ulloa, 
and with a fair breeze upon our larboard beam 
stood out to sea. It was but a few minutes 
ere the domes and white walls of the city and 
the towers of the castle began to sink in the 
distance, until growing more indistinct, at length 
a dim speck upon the horizon was the last that 
w^e saw of Mexico. 

We reached New Orleans after a short and 
pleasant voyage, and our regiment, now num- 
bering but little over three hundred, were quar- 
tered in the same barracks, where but a few 
months before we had been quartered, when 
numbering more than a thousand. We were the 
largest regiment that ever entered the field; 
but vv^ar, disease, and death had left but few, 
very few to receive the praises they had so 
hardly gained. 

After a few days of detention we were paid 
off and honorably discharged, and soon the rem- 
nant of our gallant regiment once more stood 
upon the genial soil of Tennessee, 



INDEX 



CHAPTER I. 

Page. 
Primary causes of -the Revolution in Mexico,. . .from 7 to 12 



CHAPTER II. 

Hidalgo, and. the cause of his insurrection — ^Com- 
mencement of the revolution — Operations of Hi- 
dalgo — His capture and execution— Don Ignacio 
Lopez Rayon — The Junta of Ziticuaro — Mina's 
expedition — Guadalupe Victoria.... from 13 to 24 



CHAPTER HI. 

Iturbide~-"The plan of Iguala"— The Empire— The 
overthrow of Iturbide and the establishment of a 
Republic— Election of Victoria — Election of Pe- 
draza — Plan of Perote — Guerrero — Santa Anna. 

from 24 to 37 



CHAPTER IV. 

Revolution in Texas — Contests between the Texans 
and Mexicans — Texas declared and acknowledged 
independent by the United States and other pow- 
ers — Annexation — Commencement of the war — 
Battles of the 8th and 9th of May .from 37 to 55 



282 INDEX. 

CHAPTER V, 



Page. 



The commencement of the war — Its effect upon the 
minds of the people — Action of Congress — Gen. 
Gaines' Requisition — Governor Aaron V. Brown's 
Proclamation — W ar spirit in Tennessee — Motives 
for enlisting — Government requisition for three 
regiments — The "Old Volunteer State" — Balloting 
— Singular contest — Misunderstanding as to the 
term — Elast c patriotism from 56 to 62 



CHAPTER VI. 

Companies assemble — Election of officers — Organiza- 
tion of the Regiment — Staff appointments — Pres- 
entation and reception of the "Eagle Banner Blue" 
— Reflections — Preparation for departure. .. .from 63 to 68 



CHAPTER Vn. 

Embarcation — Departure of the several detachments- 
Arrival in New Orleans — Go into quarters — Pre- 
pare to embark — Discipline and its consequences — 
Go aboard ship — The sea — Nausea and its effects — 
Loathsome scenes — Sea-sickness abates — Amuse- 
ments — Menagerical concert — Reach and anchor 
off Brazos — Col. Harney wrecked while debarking 
his troops — Storm arises— Unpleasant and perilous 
situation — Storm subsides — Berth aboard ship and 
its comforts — Disembark and the remarks of the 
men thereon — Rejoin those already onshore, .from 68 to 78 



CHAPTER Vni. 

Military encampment — Mexicans — The harbor at 
Brazos — Brazos Sant lago — Its air of sterility — 
Its ancient name — The island once inundated by 
the sea — Mode of obtaining water — Fare and 
amusements — Night alarm — Fourth of July — 
Marching orders — Leave for the Rio Grande — 
Mouth of the Rio Grande — Disappointment — De«- 



INDEX. 283 

Page, 
cription of the Rio Grande — Its force of current 
— Its turbidity, and the mode of clarifying it — 
Embark for Lomito — Country along the river — 
Burita — Arrive at Lomito and encamp. .. .from 78 to 86 

CHAPTER IX, 

Lomita and the adjacent country — Cactuses— Mex' 
lean Ox Carts, with their Teams and Drivers — 
Warm weather— Flies and Mosquitoes-Measles 
— Rain and mud — Rumors and rumor-makers — 
Mexicans, their mercenary character — Horses 
and Mules the property on the Rio Grande — 
Manner of selling and breaking Mules — Tho 
Cabrista and uses — Feats with the Cabrista — 
Court Martial — "Rogue's March" — Fandangoes 
— Hunt after a JFandango — Mexican sport in s, 

throwing bulls — Camp at night— "Old Sledge" — 
"Chuckle Inck"— Faro— Concert — Camp Meet- 
ing songs— Dancing— Ethiopian Serenades— 
Taitoo — Noises of the night from 67 to 97 



CHAPTER X. 

Organization of the 2d Regiment Tennessee Vol- 
unteers —Arrival of Gen. Pillow— Embark for 
Camargo— Animated appearance along the line- 
Fertility of the country along the river— The 
Boil— Its capabilities— Its productions— Scarcity 
of timber— The mosquito— The Rio Grande as 
it is and has been— What it will be in the hands 
of the Americans— Scenery around Matamo- 
ros— Its peculiarities— Its appearance— Scenes in 
Matamoros— Dogs without hair— Passage up the 
river — Fandangoes— Towns, &c from 98 to 107 



CHAPTER XI. 

Towns on the river— Reach Camargo— Explosion 
of the Enterprise— Our camp below the city- 
Unhealthy location— Sickness in camp— Orders 
to march— Discharge our sick— Placed under 



284 INDEX 



Pag" 



the command of General Quitman— Cross the 
river — Patterson and Pillow's command™ Anec- 
dote of Taylor from 107 to 114 



CHAPTER XII. 

Camargo— A visit to the Cathedral— Primitive 
customs-— Camanches— Mexican Indians — their 
dance — Reconnoissance — Preparations for mov- 
ing on Monterey— General Worth advances — 
Twiggs and Butler follow — Leave Camargo — 
Crosses along the road — Appearance of the 
country — ^Want of Water — Prickly burs upon 
the grass — Mountains in the distance — Mier — 
Ceralvo — Its trees and springs — Women bathing 
— Leave Ceralvo— Passo Gallo— Join the other 
division at Marin — Reveille—San Francisco- 
First gun— -Fine spirits of the volunteers- 
Encamp at the Walnut Springs from 114 to 124 



CHAPTER Xm. 

General Taylor discredited the idea of opposition 
from the enemy— Observations of the Engineers 
and their result — The situation of Monterey and 
its defences— "Black Fort," Bishop's Palace, 
&c.— Preparations for attack— Gen. Worth de- 
tached with a separate command— -Worth sets 
out — Scene in camp on the 20th — Gen. Worth- 
Worth's march and its difficulties— Reaches the 
Monclova road and encamps— Camp fires draw 
the enemy's guns upon them-— He resumes his 
march at dawn— Mexican cavalry escapes- 
Line of battle and preparations to meet the 
attack— Charge of the Lancers — Their re- 
pulse — Worth gains the Saltillo road and en- 
camps from 125 to 133 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Night before the battle — Melancholy feelings- 
Morning of the 21st — Preparatio'^- ' 



INDEX, 285 

Page. 
— March forth from camp — Position of the vol- 
unteers under Gen. Butler — Position and move- 
ment of the 1st Division under Gen. Twiggs — 
May's Dragoons and Woods' Rangers under 
Gen. Henderson — Operations of Col. Garland's 
command— Butler ordered up— Quitman's Brig- 
ade crossed the plain and charged a fort on the 
north-eastern angle of the city from 138 to 141 



CHAPTER XV. 



Movement of Gen. Butler and the Ohioans — He 
enters the city under a destructive fire — He is 
ordered to fall back — Again entering the city, 
he attempts "El Diabolo"— Butler and Mitchell 
wounded, and the withdrawal of their command — 
Recall of the troops — Charge of the Lancers — 
Return to camp — The "Bloody First" — Night 
after the battle — March again to the field on the 
22d— Inaction of this day— The 23d— Take pos- 
session of "Diabolo" — Gen. Quitman brings on 
the action— The Texans — Recall of the troops 
and return to camp from 141 to 150 



CHAPTET XVI. 



Operations of Gen. Worth — The enemy's works 
on the west of the city — Storming of Federacion 
and Soldadc — Morning of the 22d, and the 
storming of Independencia — Taking the Bishop's 
Palace — The 23d, and Worth's advance into the 
city — Major Munroe plants his mortar — Proposal 
tosnrrende —Commissioners appointed— Surren- 
der and evacuation of the city .from 150 to 160 



CHAPTER XVn. 

Burial of the dead — The First Regiment — Camp- 
bell, Anderson, Alexander, and Heiman — Anim- 

. adversions on the capitulation — Remarks upon 
the lack of siege guns from 161 to 167 



S86 INDEX. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



Page. 



The claims of the Mississippians to the honor of 
having carried the first fort captured at Monterey 
—Various statements of Col. Davis — The facts 
of the case, and refutation of Colonel Davis' 
claim from 167 to 174 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Mexican Hucksters— Grotesque appearance of the 
Donkeys and their riders — Soldiers allowed to 
enter the city — A visit to the town— A ranch and 
its inmates, with their dress and occupation — 
Appearance of the city on approaching it — 
Appearance of the houses and style of archi- 
tecture — An arriero or muleteer — A senorita — 
El Puenta de la Purissimo— The Plaza— The 
Cathedral— its front— ^its interior— The Carcel 
Ciudad— The Barber's basin — A Mexican dwarf 
"Arista's garden-"Bishop's Palace, and prospect 
fromthence— Irrigation— -Corn-— Cane-— Sugar- 
making— Gen. Worth takes Saltillo— Prepara- 
tions to march on Tarapico ".from 174 to 186 

CHAPTER XX. 

Organization of the marching column— -Departure 
of the volunteers— -Last view of Monterey— 
Caidarretta— Vulture and Zoplotor guides to 
camp — Reuel Monte Morelos— Messengers from 
Monterey and return of Taylor and Twiggs— 
New organization of troops— Monte Morelos— 
Appearance of the country— Opuntia—Linacer— 
Its alcalde— Christmas— Hidalgo— -Night expe- 
dition into Hidalgo— Hacienda of Dr. Potsi— 
Enter Victoria- from 186 to 195 

CHAPTER XXI. 

Arrival of Generals Taylor and Patterson with 
their respective columns— Col. May falls into an 
ambuscade— -Union of the Tennesseeans— Gen. 
Pillow— Victoria and its mountains— -Sappers 
and miners move off towards Tampico— Twiggs 
follows— Despatches from General Scott— Gen. 



INDEX. 287 

Page. 
Taylor ordered to return to Monterey— Gen*8. 
Patterson and Pillow move off-— Passing the 
tropic— Remarks— -Order of an army in motion- 
Rio Forlorne— Appearance of the country- 
Sierra de La Vucca y Cabra— Prairies--PaImetto 
Groves— Altamira—'Laguna de Los Este os— 
Scenery— Beauty < f the Lake, islands and for- 
ests— Tampico — Rio Panuco from 196 to 207 

CHAPTER XXII. 

Tampico and the surrounding country—Its harbors 
--Its climate-— Its commercial advantages—Its 
market'-Tampico Viejo or Old Tampico— Laguna 
de Jamaihua and Gen. Cos— Wreck of the Ondi- 
aka and narrow escape of Col. De Russey from 
Gen. Cos--Expedition against Soto La Marino- 
Embark for Vera Cruz— Storm at sea —Approach 
Vera Cruz-— Anchor at Anton Lizardo— General 
Scott's reconnoisance — Preparations for landing- 
Morning of the 9th— -Fleet moves up to Sacri- 
ficios— Gen. Worth's division debarks— Mag- 
nificent spectacle— Other troops follow— Super- 
stition— -Review of the 10th— General Worth 
gains his position— Gen. Pillow takes Malibran, 
the magazine, and the sand hill, and secures hi3 
position from 207 to 224 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

The several brigades move into position and invest 
the city — Character of the country about the 
scene of our operations — Obstacles encountered 
in the investment and siege — Opening of our 
batteries — The Musquito fleet stand in and fire 
into the city — Scene at night — Erection of new 
batteries — Affair at Medelin — Cessation of hos- 
tilities and capitulation of the city from 224 to 233 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

Vera Cruz and San Juande Ulloa— The city walls 
and fortifications---Capture of Alvarado— Pre- 
parations for marching into the interior— Gen. 



288 INDEX. 



Page 



Twiggs sets out upon the march— Gen. Patter- 
son follows— Scenery along the road— Reach 
Plan del Rio— Orders for attack— Gen. Scott ar- 
rives—Gen. Twiggs turns the enemy's left- 
Battle of the 17th from 234 to 242 



CHAPTER XXV. 

Cerro Gordo and its adjacent country — Orders for 
battle and disposition of the forces — General Pil- 
low's operations against the enemy's front — 
Charge of the Second Tennessee regiment — 
Gen. Twiggs turns the enemy's left, and drives 
them from their forts — Gen. Shields attacks Santa 
Anna's head-quarters — Total route and capture 
of the enemy.- from 242 to 250 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

The advance of Gen. Worth and the capture of La 
Hoya and Perote — Advance of the other troops 
on Jalapa— Leave Plan del Rio — The Battle Field 
— The National Road— Encerro and its scenery 
— Entrance into Jalapa — The maidens of Jal- 
apa— Encamp beyond the city • • • from 250 to 257 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

Jalapa— Its position — Its climate, etc. — The In- 
dians—Their condition from 257 to 262 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

The Mexicans — Desultory remarks upon the Mexi- 
cans, their habits, &c from 263 to 274 



RR '^9 CHAPTER XXIX. 

Gen. Worth moves on towardsthe city— Marching 

orders— Sot out for home from 274 to 279 



i 



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